Rybakina Withdraws from Cincinnati Open Quarterfinal Due to Injury
Cincinnati, The Gulf Observer: Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina ended her campaign at the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open after withdrawing from her quarterfinal match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek due to injury.
The match was stopped with Swiatek leading 4-1 in the opening set, after Rybakina was unable to continue because of an injury.
The withdrawal marked Rybakina’s second defeat to Swiatek in the space of eight days. The two players previously met in the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto on August 13, where Swiatek secured a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Rybakina, who entered the Cincinnati tournament as the second seed, had advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating American Taylor Townsend 6-3, 6-4, Poland’s Magdalena Fręch 6-4, 7-6, and Russia’s Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4.
Her withdrawal also comes at a significant point in the WTA rankings race. Following world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s early exit from the tournament, Rybakina had an opportunity to challenge for the top position.
Swiatek advanced to the Cincinnati semifinals, extending her winning streak to 10 matches. The result also raised questions over Rybakina’s fitness ahead of the US Open, which is scheduled to begin on August 30.
The Cincinnati champion will receive $1.086 million in prize money and 1,000 WTA ranking points.
