Elena Rybakina rumours swirl as she pulls out of US Open days after sacking her coach
Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from another tournament after confirming she will play no further part in the US Open, with rumours swirling around why the world No 4 has pulled out of the final Grand Slam of the year.
This is the eighth time she has withdrawn from a tournament due to illness or a fatigue issue in 2024 and it comes after news broke that she had split with long-time coach Stefano Vukov.
“Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from my match today due to my injuries,” said Rybakina in a statement.
“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.
“Thank you to all the fans who have and continue to support me, and I wish the remaining players good luck.”
There has been some concern over Rybakina’s health after her appearance at a press conference after her first round match, where she was very guarded over the split with Vukov.
“Well, of course, it is different,” she said when asked how it felt to play a match witout Vukov.
“We worked for five years, but still, I got support from Yuri Shchukin, we talked about the tactic and everything, so I was prepared for the match.
“I don’t want to talk about it too much, but yeah, that was our decision, to split. I will let you know, guys, if my coach situation is going to change.”
Former world No 1 doubles player Rennae Stubbs appeared to hint at the rumours rippling through the tennis grapevine when she spoke about Rybakina’s US Open withdrawal, as she suggested there is more to this story than we currently know.
“What’s going on with her, I think it’s a lot more than we realize,” Stubbs told ESPN
“There’s something obviously going on here. I don’t want to speculate, but this is a very unusual situation.
“Eighth withdrawals this year, with undisclosed injury now at US Open. I just think there’s something more going on here. This is not a normal situation.
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“I’ve seen her over the last couple of days. She hasn’t looked great. I’ve seen her for years on the tour. I know what she looks like when she’s happy, when she’s healthy and when she’s playing well.
“When she’s playing well, on this surface, she’s one of if not the best player in the world. So what’s going on with her, I think it’s a lot more than we realize. This is terrible. It’s sad.
“She’s such a nice person. She’s so nice to be around all the time. We wish her well and hope she can find whatever she needs to.”
Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022 and has tested the best players in the game when she is at her best, including world No 1 Iga Swiatek.
Her surprise exit from the US Open is a massive boost to Swiatek’s hopes of reaching the final, as it removes the higes seed from her section of the draw.
Swiatek, who gunning for a second title at Flushing Meadows, dropped just one game as she dispatched Ena Shibahara 6-0 6-1 in 65 minutes.
“I was just happy with the way I played, not overpowering and being really solid and picking the right shots to be reactive, I am happy with everything,” said Swiatek.
“I felt in much better rhythm. I was a bit tense in my last match. I just wanted to focus on myself and that’s what I did.”
