Victoria Azarenka advances to Berlin semi-finals as Elena Rybakina pulls out with illness

Rybakina, the third seed, was 1-3 down and visibly struggling in the first set before pulling up at 15-all on her serve.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion also withdrew from Rome last month citing illness before the quarter-finals, just before the French Open.

The Russian-born Kazakh was stunned by Italian Jasmine Paolini in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros.

She will bid to recover for Wimbledon starting on July 1st where she lost in the quarter-finals last year to Tunisian Ons Jabeur.

Former number one Azarenka will play either compatriot Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, or Russian Anna Kalinskaya in Saturday's semi-final.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova retired injured from her second-round match in the Berlin grass-court event on Thursday against Kalinskaya.