Victoria Azarenka and Ana Ivanovic, former world No1s both, departed the Aegon Classic in Edgbaston on Wednesday, with only Ivanovic confident of being ready for Wimbledon in 11 days.
Azarenka suffered another blow to her faltering career when she was forced to withdraw with an injured left foot while Ivanovic’s title defence was ruined in the second round by the Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
Azarenka’s foot injury is similar to the ailment which contributed to her fall from the world’s top 20 more than 10 months ago, something which has prevented her from adding to her 17 titles in almost two years.