"Officially started rehab and training": Victoria Azarenka gives injury update after Miami Open retirement

Victoria Azarenka shared an update on her health status after retiring due to injury at the Miami Open. The former world No. 1 had a strong first-round performance with a victory over Anhelina Kalinina but was forced to retire against Karolina Muchova (15th seed) while trailing 0-6, 0-0.

At the start of the set, Azarenka suffered a serious injury after hitting the back wall, which quickly complicated things. On the next point, while hitting a backhand, she appeared to sustain an evident shoulder injury, leaving the Belarusian in tears as she was attended to on the same baseline where the injury occurred.

Medical professionals quickly rushed to the scene, as Azarenka’s injury appeared to be serious. Her Miami rival, Karolina Muchova, also showed great sportsmanship by expressing concern for Azarenka, going over to check on her during the injury and later carrying the two-time Grand Slam champion’s racket bag off the court.

Azarenka provided an update on her injury, stating that she would be taking some time off the court for rehabilitation, but mentioned that there would be no long-term damage “Quick update on my injury: I’ve been working through the diagnosis and have now officially started rehab and training,” she posted on her X account.

“The good news is there’s no long-term damage, but it will still take a bit of time to recover fully. I really appreciate all the messages and support—it means a lot. Thank you also to my opponent, Karolina, for being so kind and gracious,” the former world No. 1 added. “Injuries are unfortunately part of what we do, and while this is a setback, I’m focused on overcoming the challenge, putting in the work, and seeing where the journey leads.”

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe