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Elena Rybakina (Source: X)
Injury continues to be Elena Rybakina's nemesis. The Kazakh is set to miss the China Open 2024, marking her third consecutive absence from a high-profile tournament. Organisers have confirmed that Rybakina has withdrawn from the upcoming WTA 1000 event due to a back injury.
The 24-year-old's 2024 campaign has not been smooth sailing so far and the latest developments have added to the woes. She was forced to miss the Paris Olympics and returned for the Cincinnati Open, only to make a first-round exit. Ahead of the US Open, Rybakina split with her long-term coach Stefano Vukov.
The Kazakhstani top-seed won her first-round match at Flushing Meadows, but withdrew from the tournament afterwards and has not competed since. She had also skipped the Korean Open. The China Open took to the Chinese social media platform Weibo to announce the last year’s semi-finalist’s withdrawal.
“For fans who have been following the China Open and Rybakina’s dynamics recently, we regret to inform you that due to a back injury our last year’s semi-finalist Rybakina will not have the opportunity to meet with you,” the statement read.
'We sincerely wish Rybakina to return to the court as soon as possible and meet Chinese fan against as soon as possible,” it added.
Rybakina joins nine other top-30 players on the withdrawal list
Apart from Elena Rybakina, another nine top-30 players will also miss the upcoming Chinese tournament. World No 1 Iga Swiatek has skipped the event due to personal reasons, while Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova have pulled out due to shoulder injury. Notably, Swaitek also missed the Korea Open due to fatigue.
Danielle Collins (illness), Maria Sakkari (shoulder injury), Victoria Azarenka (no reason given), Linda Noskova (personal reasons) and Elina Svitolina (foot injury) are the other big players who will also not feature at the WTA 1000 tournament. Meanwhile, Newly crowned US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will enter as the top seed and will look to clinch another title.
Here's how fans reacted as Elena Rybakina withdrew from China Open 2024:
do you think it’s really a back injury? it seems she was fine round 1 USO. do you think it’s coach change related
— coolny (@catloverny) September 22, 2024
Well done Elena, keep withdrawing from the tournament. This is very good, well done. I don't think she has an injury.
— mooon (@fanoftenniss) September 22, 2024
Well…it’s not something new,expected but very sad,wanted to see her play.😣
— Cher Forbes (@forbes_cher26) September 22, 2024
This is becoming normal now !
— Veronica Kropf ❤️ (@VeronicaHoungan) September 22, 2024
Not suprised at all,
— либан Х.А. (@Libanhassan1998) September 22, 2024
No surprise, just wishing her all the best and hopefully start a fresh in 2025 all healthy, she is missed
— CARO (@carolin81122487) September 22, 2024
I just feel so much sadness for Elena and anger towards Vukov for the whole situation. Why? Please Andy Roddick, Renee Stubbs, Pam Shriver someone. It will have to come out one day. It will be awful, but is needed for the healing.
— Lawman (@LawmanOmegaT) September 22, 2024
I agree with many here and on tennis forums. This is not a mere back injury at this point. I think many in the tennis community (current and former players, coaches, support staff, media) know at this point. It is one of those open secrets now. Who will tell. Such pain here.
— Lawman (@LawmanOmegaT) September 22, 2024
Well, congrats to Jasmine Paolini on snatching Elena’s world No. 4 ranking! Like, we know she’s going to snatch it now in Beijing.
— emotions (@Hiikamaaru_) September 22, 2024
In all honesty, I think Elena has shut down her season. This injury feels nagging and likely needs at least a month to recover from.
Rybakina’s fans this season pic.twitter.com/SGpniP2sEh
— Mel (@Mel_A_T) September 22, 2024