With tears streaming down her face, Beatriz Haddad Maia gingerly walked up to the net and conceded her Wimbledon fourth-round match on Monday.

The Brazilian tennis star suffered what appeared to be a back injury early in the first set against reigning champion Elena Rybakina, and after a medical timeout, was forced to retire after just five games while down 4-1.  

Rybakina, 24, ranked No. 3 in the world, now advances to Thursday’s quarterfinal against Ons Jabeur, who she beat in the 2022 Wimbledon Championship to secure the women’s singles title. 

“It’s never easy to finish a match like this. I hope it is nothing really serious, it is really unlucky for Beatriz,” Rybakina said. “Hopefully she is going to get better and I am just happy to play another round.”

Haddad Maia, 27, is in the midsts off a breakout Grand Slam summer even in defeat.

In early June, Haddad Maia pushed her way to the French Open semifinal where she fell to top seed and eventual champion Iga Świątek, but bolstered her ranking to No. 13 ahead of Wimbledon. 

Monday’s match went on for less than half an hour before Haddad Maia was wincing in pain while holding her lower back. 

Following her medical timeout, Haddad Maia played on but had very limited movement and could not run for the balls, dealing Rybakina an easily-earned service hold. 

Haddad Maia knew she could not go on, and after shaking hands at the net, Rybakina walked to the other side of the court to embrace her opponent during the heartbreaking moment.