Tennis-Sabalenka and Azarenka out of Wimbledon with shoulder injuries

Tennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - June 27, 2024 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during a practice session REUTERS/Paul Childs

LONDON (Reuters) - Third seed Aryna Sabalenka and 16th seed Victoria Azarenka pulled out of Wimbledon shortly before their opening matches on Monday due to shoulder injuries, organisers said, leaving the women's draw short of a pair of Grand Slam champions.

Sabalenka, who was set to face American Emina Bektas, was replaced in the draw by Russian Erika Andreeva, while fellow Belarusian Azarenka's spot was taken up by another lucky loser in Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot.