Elena Rybakina’s recent bid to overtake Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the global rankings was cut short when an injury forced her to withdraw during her Cincinnati Open quarter-final clash with Iga Swiatek.
To dethrone Sabalenka from the number one spot, the second-seeded Kazakh player had to advance to the tournament’s final, a path made possible after the Belarusian fell in an unexpected fourth-round loss to Sara Bejlek on Wednesday.
Ultimately, Rybakina could only complete five games in the quarter-final encounter with her Polish opponent before bowing out due to an issue with her left ankle.
With the score standing at 4-1 against her, the reigning Australian Open titleholder requested medical assistance after experiencing discomfort at deuce.
After discussing the situation with her trainer, Rybakina contested just a single additional point before choosing to withdraw from the match.
“Naturally, I don’t feel great, as I wasn’t even able to push off for my serve,” Rybakina explained.
“Walking is painful right now. We will have a clearer picture tomorrow after the MRI scans. This has been a persistent issue for some time, though I believed I had managed to keep it under control.
“It felt fine prior to starting, but sadly, a single awkward step, just one landing, and something gave way.”
Swiatek, who recently defeated Rybakina in last week’s Canadian Open final, is set to go head-to-head with the world’s third-ranked player, Jessica Pegula of the United States, in the final four.
The second-seeded Pole is aiming to be only the second female player in the last two decades to secure back-to-back titles in Cincinnati, following in the footsteps of Serena Williams’ victories in 2014 and 2015.
“I really hope Elena recovers quickly. The upcoming Grand Slam is the main focus. While this tournament matters, the US Open is the ultimate goal,” Swiatek noted.
The final Major of the year in New York, where Sabalenka will be looking to secure a third consecutive singles crown, gets underway on Sunday, 30 August.
“I trust she will be fit in time for that. She is incredibly close to capturing the top spot in the rankings,” Swiatek continued.
“It’s highly unfortunate. The contest was shaping up nicely, but well-being must always come first. I wish her all the best.”
