Aryna Sabalenka is the ninth Grand Slam quarterfinalist to earn a spot in Monday’s early semifinals at Wimbledon this year, and she may have also caught a flu bug from her first-round opponent.
Sabalenka, seeded 14th at Wimbledon, became ill with the flu, a cold and “another virus” the day after losing to Australian Johanna Konta on Monday, Wimbledon officials confirmed on Tuesday. She had her vaccinations shortly after losing to Konta, she told reporters later, and her doctors said that her illness is not related to that of the more famous player named Sabalenka.
“The good thing is that I did get a good vaccination in the morning of the first match, so I think that will go a long way.” the 20-year-old Sabalenka said on Tuesday. “I feel really good. I’m just really excited for that and to have played my best of Wimbledon in the quarterfinals.”
Sabalenka, the No. 8 seed in the competition, will play up-and-coming American Sloane Stephens on Wednesday for a spot in the semifinals.