"What’s wrong with Elena Rybakina's health? Biggest mystery in tennis";"Should just retire" - Fans frustrated by Kazakh's withdrawal from US Open 2024
Elena Rybakina's fitness woes have resurfaced, forcing her to add to her already long list of withdrawals this season by pulling out of the 2024 US Open. The Kazakh was set to face Jessika Ponchet in the second round at Flushing Meadows before her withdrawal.
Rybakina's season has been plagued by health issues, which have caused her withdrawal from several major events, including the Dubai Tennis Championships, the Indian Wells Open, the Paris Olympics and the Canadian Open, among others.
Nevertheless, the World No. 4 made a promising start to her campaign at the New York Major, claiming a 6-1, 7-6(1) win over Destanee Aiava in the first round. However, just moments before her second-round clash, Rybakina announced her decision to pull out of the US Open due to undisclosed "injuries."
"Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from my match today due to my injuries. 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," Elena Rybakina said in a statement shared by the WTA.
"Thank you to all the fans who have and continue to support me, and I wish the remaining players good luck," she added.
With Elena Rybakina's decision adding to a series of untimely withdrawals during the season, several fans expressed frustration over the "mystery" of the Kazakh's health.
"What’s wrong with her health? Biggest mystery in today’s tennis!!!" one fan commented.
"She is not okay. I want someone to figure out what is wrong with her," another fan chimed in.
"There is something deeper to this story, seen it too many times," said another.
Several fans even called for the 25-year-old to retire or at the very least take a lengthy break from the sport to address her fitness issues.
"She should just retire from tennis completely," one fan wrote.
"She should retire or come back after 12 month of all type medical tests," a fan argued.
"Wow!! She needs to stop playing tennis and fix these health issues first!!" another fan suggested.
Others, meanwhile, suggested that Elena Rybakina will go down as one of the "biggest what-ifs" in tennis, pondering how her career would've unfolded if she wasn't hindered by her health issues.
"In a few years we will wonder what Elena Rybakina's career would have been like if she did not have the physical strength of a child with poIio in the 1930s," one fan commented.
"Ryba will go down as one of the biggest what-ifs," said another.
Elena Rybakina parted ways with long-time coach Stefano Vukov just days before US Open
Before her withdrawal from the 2024 US Open, Elena Rybakina drew attention for parting ways with her long-time coach Stefano Vukov just days before her opening match at Flushing Meadows.
The World No. 4 then began training under the watchful eye of the former coach of the Kazakhstani female tennis team, Yuri Schukin. The Kazakh credited her discussion with Schukin about the tactics for her opening match against Destanee Aiava as crucial for her preparation.
"Well of course it is different. We worked for five years. But still I got support from Yuri Shchukin," Elena Rybakina said in her post-match press conference. "And same, we talked about the tactics and everything. So I was prepared for the match."
However, Rybakina was reluctant to discuss the details of her split with Vukov, dismissing the multiple inquiries about it. She also asserted that she would share the details about her future coaching partnership once she finalized her decision.
"Well, I don’t want to talk about it too much but yeah, that was our decision – to split," she said.
However, as the questions continued to revolve around her coaching arrangement, Elena Rybakina resorted to curt responses before ending the press conference in less than two minutes.