Elena Rybakina, the fourth seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion, has withdrawn from the 2024 US Open due to an injury. The Kazakhstani player was set to compete against Jessika Ponchet in the second round on Thursday but has had to pull out before the match.
Rybakina, who was slated to play Ponchet, a debutant in the US Open main draw, was unable to continue in the tournament due to concerns about her physical condition. The match was scheduled to take place as the fourth and final clash on Court 17.
In a statement, Rybakina expressed her disappointment at exiting the tournament this way: “I did not want to finish the last Grand Slam of the year this way, but I have to listen to my body. I hope I can close out the remainder of the year strong. Thank you to all fans who have and continue to support me, and I wish the remaining players good luck.”
Rybakina’s withdrawal adds to a challenging period for the player. Since her appearance in the Wimbledon semi-finals last month, she has faced several setbacks. She withdrew from both the singles and mixed doubles events at the Paris Olympics. Lost her opening match in a US Open warm-up event, and recently announced a split from her long-time coach.
With Elena Rybakina out, Jessika Ponchet, who is currently ranked 143rd in the world, will advance to the third round. Ponchet will now face either former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki or Mexico’s Renata Zarazua.
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