Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has announced her withdrawal from the upcoming tournaments in Beijing and Wuhan, citing an ongoing back injury. Despite a successful first half of the year, which saw her claim titles in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, and Stuttgart, Rybakina has faced a series of setbacks due to illness and injuries.
After reaching the Wimbledon semifinals, she withdrew from the Paris Olympics due to bronchitis and later pulled out of the US Open in August following a lower back injury sustained during her opening match.
“Due to an ongoing back injury, I regretfully have to withdraw from the upcoming Asian tournaments,” Rybakina stated in a press release. “While I’ve been working hard on my recovery, my medical team and I have decided it’s best to prioritize my health at this time.”
The 25-year-old, who recently parted ways with her long-time coach Stefano Vukov just days before the US Open, is currently third in the WTA race to the season finale, scheduled for November 2-9 in Riyadh.
“This has been a challenging year, and I am grateful for the support from the tournament organizers and all of my fans,” Rybakina expressed. “My team and I will work on getting me back on the court before the season finale.”
Despite the setbacks, Rybakina remains determined to return to action before the end of the season. Her fans will eagerly await her comeback and hope for a successful conclusion to what has been a challenging year for the talented Kazakh player.
