Elena Rybakina may have had another mysterious withdrawal but this time there is an official cause listed as it is stated on the WTA website that the Kazakh tennis star pulled out of Seoul due to a back injury.
After missing some time due to acute bronchitis and returning to action in Cincinnati, the 25-year-old stunningly fired her long-time coach Stefano Vukov just before the start of the US Open. A few days later, the world No. 4 started with a win over Destanee Aiava at Flushing Meadows but was very secretive when asked to address her coaching change.
Then, rumors started to swirl around that Vukov was removed from the WTA coaches list and there may be something deeper in the 2022 Wimbledon champion abruptly ending her partnership with her coach. That same day, Rybakina was slated to play her second-round match against Jessika Ponchet but withdrew and just cited “injuries” without clarifying what exactly.
Considering the circumstances, that move left many wondering what was really happening and if everything was OK with the eight-time WTA champion.
After the US Open, the 25-year-old’s next scheduled tournament was next week’s WTA 500 event in Seoul. But once again, she pulled out and that sparked the same conversations that occurred after she withdrew from her match at Flushing Meadows.
But now, it is being revealed that Rybakina did list an injury as the reason – and it’s the same injury that plagued her last year.
As some peoples has doubt Elena Rybakina withdrew of Seoul due to non official announcement.
Confirmation today by the WTA of the withdrawal.
Official reason : Back injuryLink:https://t.co/aSNF2SAcCI pic.twitter.com/CB5DWnt0kY
— Sebastien G. (@sebsharfam2) September 12, 2024
Truth be told, Rybakina has battled health issues throughout 2024
After dealing with an illness at the start of the season, the 2023 Indian Wells champion also wasn’t able to defend her title in the desert due to gastrointestinal illness. A month and a half later, she was forced to miss another WTA 1000 tournament after withdrawing from Rome due to illness.
After the Rome withdrawal, Rybakina managed to compete at the French Open and reach the quarterfinal before getting upset by Jasmine Paolini. Following the exit, the 25-year-old said she wasn’t in the best possible condition because “health issues” left a negative impact on her.
“I think in the end my legs were not there. No matter which conditions, if it’s slow or fast, I should have been moving better…. So I’m not really happy with the performance, but it is what it is. It’s tennis. Not every day you can play good. As I was saying, I was struggling a little bit with the health issues past few weeks — I think it’s just all together. But in the end no matter all these things, which were maybe happening outside of the court, I managed to get to the quarters. I think it’s pretty good result,” the world No. 4 said after her exit at Roland Garros.
Elena Rybakina© YouTube screenshot
Rybakina was then also hit with acute bronchitis…
When asked in Paris with what exactly she was struggling, the Kazakh tennis star didn’t want to directly reveal it but did share that it were issues with allergies and sleeping.
“Well, I’m not going to go deep in this topic for sure, but I’ve been working a lot and I think there is a lot of ups and downs. It’s always different, but as I always say, the schedule is not easy. At the end of the day, everybody is trying to manage as best as possible. I think I’ve played a lot. As I said, if the body is on the limit, I can’t go on the court. If I’m not 100 percent ready, then it’s a risk to even get bigger injuries or something,” Rybakina said.
“For now it’s been health (problems) with allergies (and) sleeping — so it’s a little bit different from maybe last year when I had back problems. I heal.It’s always ups and downs. It’s tennis, so we just trying to find the best possible way for me to prepare and be ready for big events like Grand Slams and 1000 events.”
At Wimbledon, the 2022 tournament champion managed to reach the semifinal but then suffered a shock semifinal loss to Barbora Krejcikova and later also missed the Paris Olympics because of bronchitis.
“Dear Kazakhstanis! It is hard for me to tell you this, but unfortunately, I will not be able to take part in the Olympics in Paris. After the Wimbledon tournament, I fell ill with acute bronchitis, and despite attempts to return to training, my body has not yet recovered. Doctors categorically forbade me to go out on the court,” the Kazakh explained in a statement posted on her Instagram.
The WTA 1000 event in Beijing is starting on September 25th and that could possibly be Rybakina’s next tournament if she resolves her ongoing back injury.