Ons Jabeur was sent a heartwarming message after being forced to retire against Coco Gauff at the Berlin Open.
Jabeur, who is one of the favourites to go far at Wimbledon this summer, was forced to retire through illness after one set at the Berlin Open.
After having her temperature taken, the quarter-final tie was called off following a long opening set.
Jabeur saved eight set points before Gauff finally clinched the first set 7-6 (11-9).
The 29-year-old appeared to have problems breathing at the doctor was called out before the decision was made not to start the second set, with Gauff claiming victory by default.
But the American admitted the win was bitter-sweet and wished her opponent all the best as she prepares to face compatriot Jessica Pegula in the semi-final.
“I was happy with how I was able to play,” Gauff said.
“Of course, I send my best wishes to Ons. It’s not the way you want to finish a match, especially with someone who is so nice on and off the court.
“It doesn’t feel like a win. We had such a good first set.
“I wish Ons the best, I think it’s something that is just going to happen today and she’ll be better tomorrow, so hopefully she’ll be at Wimbledon.”
With Wimbledon set to get underway in two weeks time, there are fears that Jabeur could miss out on the tournament.
The Tunisian had been fancied as a potential winner at SW19, having reached the final in the past two years.
And Wimbledon officials might be not just be sweating over Jabeur’s availability with four of the top 10 women’s stars retiring through illness or injury this week in Berlin.
That includes reigning champion Marketa Vondrousova and 2022 winner Elena Rybakina, who left Berlin earlier in the competition.
World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka retired with a shoulder injury on the same day as Jabeur, raising serious questions over whether or not she will recover in time for Wimbledon, which gets underway on July 1.