Wimbledon 2023: Elena Rybakina into quarter-finals after Beatriz Haddad Maia retires, Mirra Andreeva out

Defending champion Elena Rybakina is into the quarter-finals of Wimbledon after her opponent Beatriz Haddad Maia retired injured just five games into their encounter on Centre Court.

The Brazilian had come into the encounter with hopes of causing an upset, but at 2-1 down – on the verge of being broken – she appeared to suffer an issue with her back mid-rally, and was subsequently barely able to move.

Despite some treatment and carrying on until Rybakina had moved 4-1 up, Haddad Maia tearfully decided she could no longer continue.

“It’s never easy to finish a match like this,” Rybakina said in her on-court interview afterwards.

“I hope it is nothing really serious, it is really unlucky for Beatriz. Hopefully she is going to get better and I am just happy to play another round.

“I was feeling the ball really well even though it was really windy today. I think for today, that it is for me, no more tennis but tomorrow I will practice.”

Meanwhile there was a controversial exit for 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva at the same fourth-round stage as she lost 3-6 7-6(2) 2-6 to Madison Keys.

Andreeva had moved into the early lead by taking the opener, but was pegged back by the vastly experienced Keys in the second, and then the 25th seed ran away with proceedings in the decider.

Andreeva, appearing in just her second-ever major, then left the court without shaking the umpire’s hand.

Rybakina will face Ons Jabeur next, while Keys takes on world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

In the women’s doubles second round, Haddad Maia’s injury meant she and team-mate Victoria Azarenka conceded a walkover to Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund.

Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo saw off Chan Hoa-ching and Latisha Chan 6-4 6-4, and Czech pair Marketa Vondrousova and Miriam Kolodziejova beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Marta Kostyuk 1-6 6-1 6-4.

In the last 16, Barbora Strycova and Hsieh Su-wei teamed up to defeat Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi 7-5 7-6(7-4), while Oksana Kalashnivkova and Iryna Shymaovich defeated Ingrid Gamarra Martins and Lidziya Marozava 6-4 7-6(10-8).

British duo Maia Lumsden and Naiktha Bains are through to the quarters after a 6-3 6-7(5-7) 6-3 win over Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova.

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