Elena Rybakina withdraws from Roland Garros

June 3, 2023

Elena Rybakina withdraws from Roland Garros

Elena Rybakina has pulled out from her third round match at Roland Garros against Sara Sorribes Tormo, with the WTA citing the withdrawal due to an ‘upper respiratory illness’ .

Rybakina was on an eight-match winning streak, stemming from her Italian Open triumph and opening two wins in Paris, however the Kazakh will take no further part in the clay major despite practicing earlier on today.

Elena Rybakina - Roland Garros Instagram 2023

“I didn’t sleep two nights and had some fever,” Rybakina said in a statement to Roland Garros. “Today I really tried on the warm up, but I feel that the right decision is to withdraw…I’m really upset not to be able to play, but I guess that’s life.”

The Wimbledon champion is still likely to rise to a new career-high of No.3, but would have been hoping for a better outcome after winning her biggest title on the dirt.

Rybakina’s withdrawal means that Sorribes Tormo moves into the second week of a major for the first time in her career, and either the Spaniard, Ekaterina Alexandrova or Beatriz Haddad Maia will become a first time Grand Slam quarter-finalist.

While WTA No.1 Iga Swiatek is unlikely to be pleased about Rybakina feeling unwell, it does open up her half of the draw even more, with 2022 Roland Garros runner-up Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur the Pole’s biggest threats in terms of ranking.

Your order of play for Philippe-Chatrier today.

Unfortunately, Elena Rybakina has had to withdraw from her match ?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/CXVrpbwxbr

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 3, 2023

Rybakina will now move onto the grass, as she attempts to defend her maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

Elena Rybakina winning streak before withdrawal

Before Rybakina pulled out from the Roland Garros draw, the 23-year-old was one of the favourites for the title alongside Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.

Her form in general in 2023 has been very strong, but a recent breakthrough on the clay had also got people talking.

Here are the women she beat to produce this eight-match winning streak:
Rome

First Round – Received a bye

Second Round – Beat Jasmine Paolini, 7-6(4) 6-1

Third Round – Beat Anna Kalinskaya, 4-3 (Kalinskaya retired)

Fourth Round – Beat Marketa Vondrousova, 6-3 6-3

Quarter-final – Beat Iga Swiatek, 2-6 7-6(3) 2-2 (Swiatek retired)

Semi-final – Beat Jelena Ostapenko, 6-2 6-4

Final – Beat Anhelina Kalinina, 6-4 1-0 (Kalinina retired)

Roland Garros

First Round – Beat Brenda Fruhvirtova, 6-4 6-2

Second Round – Beat Linda Noskova, 6-3 6-3