Elena Rybakina's bid to the add the French Open to her 2022 Wimbledon title is over after she withdrew from the tournament ahead of her third-round match because of illness.
The fourth seed, who was widely tipped to prevail at Roland Garros after winning the Italian Open in Rome last month, breezed through her first two matches without losing as set, beating teenagers Brenda Fruhvirtova and Linda Noskova. But ahead of what was billed as another expected win against Sara Sorribes Tormo, she revealed she was pulling out having consulted doctors.
Rybakina has been poised to open play on Court Philippe-Chatrier at 11.45am local time (10.45am BST). However, having arrived early to warm-up, it became clear she was struggling.
“I was not feeling good already yesterday and the day before, so I didn’t sleep two nights and had some fever," Ryabinka told reporters. "Today I really tried in the warm-up but I feel that the right decision is to withdraw, because it’s really tough to play with these conditions.
“I saw the doctor and they said that actually it’s all a virus here in Paris. I guess with my allergy, immune system just went down and I picked up something. It’s difficult to perform and obviously to run and even breathe. So I think that was the only right decision I could make.
"Today I just wanted to give 100 per cent and obviously I’m far from being 100 per cent. It was unlucky for me. I just try to recover and do my best to be prepared for the grass season already.”
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Pressed on whether she was disappointed about her premature exit, the star was philosophical: “Of course I’m really upset not to be able to play but I guess that’s life. There is a lot of ups and downs.”
Rybakina won her maiden Slam at SW19 last summer, with her success considered historic given she became the first player from Kazakhstan to capture a major title. However, her title was also claimed as a 'win for Russia', with the Moscow born player initially born and raised in the country before switching her national allegiance.
Russian and Belarusian players were barred from Wimbledon amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, a sanction that has been lifted this year. And Rybakina's focus will now turn to defending her title from July 3, scheduled to play on grass in Berlin and Eastbourne as preparation.
