Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal from the 2024 US Open is a concerning continuation of her struggles with health issues throughout the year. Despite entering the tournament as the fourth seed and showing promise with a solid first-round victory over Destanee Aiava, Rybakina unexpectedly pulled out just hours before her second-round match against Jessika Ponchet. The official reason given was a recurrence of injuries, though specific details were not initially provided.
This withdrawal is part of a larger pattern for Rybakina in 2024. After a strong start to the season, where she captured two titles and reached five finals by April, her year took a downturn due to a series of health setbacks. In June, she retired from a match at the Berlin Grass Court Championships and subsequently withdrew from the Eastbourne International. Although she managed to compete at Wimbledon, where she was a strong contender, her performance was hampered by her physical condition, and she was defeated in the semifinals by Barbora Krejčíková.
The situation worsened when Rybakina had to skip the 2024 Paris Olympics due to acute bronchitis, a decision that was particularly difficult for her given her ambition to represent Kazakhstan at the Games. Her health continued to be a concern as she struggled in subsequent tournaments, including an early exit at the Cincinnati Open, which raised doubts about her fitness leading into the US Open.
Rybakina’s recent struggles are a stark contrast to the success she enjoyed in 2022 when she won Wimbledon, her first Grand Slam title. The constant disruptions to her season due to injuries have not only affected her physically but have also likely taken a toll on her mentally, especially considering the recent split with her longtime coach, Stefano Vukov.
As Rybakina herself noted in her withdrawal statement, she is keenly aware of the need to listen to her body and prioritize her long-term health, even if it means making difficult decisions like pulling out of major tournaments. Her focus now will be on recovery and trying to finish the season strong, though this latest setback raises questions about how quickly she can return to peak form and whether she might need an extended break to fully recover.
This marks the seventh time this year that Rybakina has had to withdraw from a tournament, underscoring the severity of her health issues. With her absence from the US Open, the dynamics of the women’s draw have shifted, leaving a gap in her section of the bracket and providing an opportunity for lower-ranked players like Ponchet to advance further.
Rybakina’s ongoing health struggles highlight the physical and mental challenges athletes face at the highest levels of competition. Her situation also serves as a reminder of the fine line between pushing through adversity and knowing when to step back to protect one’s long-term well-being
