In a significant update from the Italian publication, Ubitennis, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, has officially withdrawn from the main draw of the Korea Open (WTA Seoul). Apparently, Rybakina has been battling persistent injury issues, in the second half of the 2024 tennis season itself. Moreover, Rybakina’s withdrawal has opened the door for Zhang Shuai to enter the main draw, and participate in her place.

Reflecting on the past, Elena Rybakina came into the US Open as one of the favorites. With her powerful game and recent success, she was expected to make a deep run once again. However, her campaign was derailed by an injury that forced her out mid-tournament, setting off a troubling pattern. Point to note is, Rybakina has never advanced into the third round at the hard court major.

Concerns regarding Rybakina’s physical state and capacity to regain her best form have only grown when she withdrew from the Paris Olympics, leaving a big hole at the top of the women’s draw because of “unspecified illness”.

She said in a statement post the US Open withdrawal, “Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from my match today due to my injuries…I did not want to finish the last Grand Slam of the year this way, but I have to listen to my body, and I hope I can close out the remainder of the year strong.”

The Korea Open has been hit with a significant blow as multiple top-ranked players have withdrawn from the tournament. Jessica Pegula, the defending champion, is one of those forced to pull out, potentially due to the physical toll of her recent Grand Slam final. Her fellow American, Amanda Anisimova, will take her place. Additionally, Anastasia Potapova and Katie Boulter have been replaced by Payton Stearns and Magdalena Frech in the lower-ranked entries.

Subsequently, Rybakina’s injury troubles aren’t the only challenge she’s facing. Just a few weeks ago, she made headlines for her split with her longtime coach, a move that has added another layer of uncertainty to her season.

Elena Rybakina splits with coach, Stefano Vukov

Just before the US Open, Elena Rybakina announced that she would be parting ways with her coach, Stefano Vukov. They had been working together since 2019 and achieved great success, including winning one Grand Slam title at Wimbledon and reaching the Australian Open final in 2019.

On Instagram, Rybakina announced her split and thanked Vukov for his services. She shared, “Hello everyone, after five years, Stefano and I are no longer working together. I thank him for his work on-court and wish him all the best for the future. Thank you all for the support.”

Elena Rybakina’s continued withdrawals have cast a shadow over what was expected to be another strong season for the 2022 Wimbledon champion. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Rybakina can recover both physically and mentally, and reclaim her place among the top contenders on the WTA Tour.