Elena Rybakina withdraws from U.S. Open with injury

NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina, the world No. 4, withdrew from the U.S. Open Thursday with an undisclosed injury, a USTA spokesperson said. The fourth seed, Rybakina won her first-round match 6-1, 7-6(1) against Destanee Aiava.

Rybakina was scheduled to play Jessika Ponchet Thursday on Court 17.

“Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from my match today due to my injuries,” Rybakina said in a statement via the WTA. “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.”

This is the seventh time Rybakina’s had a withdrawal or retirement in 2024. She was forced to withdraw from three WTA 1000 tournaments due to illness and fatigue, and lost a 42-point tiebreak, 20-22, in the second round of the Australian Open against Anna Blinkova, having had eight match points. At the Berlin Ladies Open, Rybakina retired due to illness in the quarterfinal against Victoria Azarenka. In the subsequent tournament at Eastbourne, Rybakina withdrew.

Two days before the Paris Olympics began, Rybakina withdrew due to acute bronchitis. She was on a list of high-profile names to pull out of the Paris Games which included Ons Jabeur, Marketa Vondrousova and Madison Keys.

Before the U.S. Open began, Rybakina announced that she split with coach Stefano Vukov after five years working together.

Rybakina wraps up her 2024 Slam season with a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon her best result, where she lost to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova. She also made the quarterfinals at the French Open before losing to eventual finalist Jasmine Paolini.

Rybakina has three WTA titles in 2024: the Brisbane International, the Abu Dhabi Open and the Stuttgart Grand Prix. She won her maiden Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2022.

As for Ponchet, she will play the winner of Caroline Wozniacki and Renata Zarazua in the third round.