Life as a professional tennis player can change quickly, even if the player in question is the No.1 in the world. Just a little over three weeks ago, Elena Rybakina was having the time of her life as she won the US Open and clinched the top spot on the WTA Rankings from Aryna Sabalenka. However, since then, the Kazakh has not had the best of times during the Asian swing, with the World No.1 announcing her withdrawal from the Wuhan Open.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
“I’m very sorry to the fans who were looking forward to seeing me play. I’ll take some time to recover,” said Rybakina on the Wuhan Open’s official Instagram story. “Thank you for your understanding and continued support. See you next year.”
The official statement from the Wuhan Open mentioned a foot injury, which led Rybakina to withdraw from the last WTA 1000 event of the season. The Kazakh had already suffered a leg injury this season, which saw her retire from her match against Iga Swiatek at the Cincinnati Open. With the US Open fast approaching, there was a genuine concern about the participation chances as Rybakina was racing against time to be fit for New York.
The stakes were raised even higher as Rybakina had the opportunity to get the No.1 ranking as well. Tackling all the odds, the 27-year-old ended up holding the trophy a few weeks later on the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Her debut as the No. 1 player did not start well, as she lost to Alina Charaeva in her opening-round match at the China Open.
Her decision to withdraw from Wuhan does not come in isolation, as the World No.1 already made a high-profile withdrawal at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, despite Kazakhstan making the final cut in Shenzhen. Even during her match in Beijing, Rybakina struggled to play at full tilt, saying she felt the effects of the injury beforehand.
Unfortunately for Rybakina, the Kazakh has had a history of physical issues, which have often kept her out of action for long periods of time. While she is suffering from lower-leg injuries this season, it was her lower back that troubled her in 2024, forcing her to withdraw from the US Open after playing only one match. That season saw her withdraw from almost ten events as she struggled with illness, which affected her performances on the court.
For Rybakina, withdrawing from the Wuhan event would be a short-term blow. However, given that she has already qualified for the WTA Finals and has a healthy lead in the overall rankings, the Kazakh would attempt to be fit to play at Indian Wells in November.
Elena Rybakina Has Already Qualified for the WTA Finals
With 7492 points for the season, Rybakina has already confirmed her spot in the final eight for the WTA Finals. This has been a dominant season for the Kazakh, who has won both hard-court Majors and has won 49 of the 63 matches she has played so far this year. She has reached five finals this season, including two WTA 1000 events at Indian Wells and Toronto, in addition to her Grand Slam finals.
As for the overall rankings, Rybakina is over 2000 points ahead of Aryna Sabalenka, and with the Belarusian also making an early-round exit in Beijing, there is no immediate ranking threat for the Kazakh. Should Sabalenka make a deep run at the Wuhan Open, she might get close to the top spot, and with the former World No.1 being a three-time champion at Wuhan, Rybakina will have a close eye on the proceedings. However, Sabalenka will have her own points to defend at Wuhan from her semifinal run last year, and the Belarusian’s recent form has not been encouraging.
With the Wuhan withdrawal, the WTA Finals remain the only major event left on Rybakina’s calendar. Playing at the year-ending event as the World No.1 for the first time will be a difficult ask, especially since she is the defending champion. Should the injury persist and Rybakina is unable to go full tilt, she might struggle to secure wins, as the field will consist of the seven other best players of the season.
However, the WTA Finals shifting to Indian Wells this year plays to Rybakina’s advantage, as she has a 16-4 win-loss record at the event, including a WTA 1000 title in 2023.