Rybakina does not confirm 100% her presence at the US Open: "I want to make sure that everything is okay"
The world number two was forced to withdraw in Cincinnati due to discomfort in her Achilles tendon, and her participation in the US Open, where she could achieve the number one ranking, remains uncertain.
Elena Rybakina wants to be at the US Open, but she cannot guarantee it 100%. The Kazakh is aware of the historic opportunity she has to become the world number one for the first time. However, her Achilles tendon injury a week ago in Cincinnati forced her to withdraw, and she still does not know if this physical misfortune will prevent her from participating in New York.
It was in the quarterfinals against Iga Swiatek when, down 4-0 in the score, Rybakina chose to withdraw and not push herself just days before the major in New York. "Right now, I can't say that I feel good, I could barely push off to serve. Walking right now is very painful,” she warned right after her defeat against the Pole.
She also stated that these were issues she had been dragging for weeks: “This is something that has been bothering me for a while. It was under control, but after playing many matches in Canada and arriving in Cincinnati and playing two consecutive matches, it worsened. The match against Magdalena Frech, which was constantly interrupted by rain, was where I started to feel it more, and then I decided to take a full day of rest. I was feeling good before this last match, but a wrong move, a bad landing, and I felt something happen,” explained the world number two.
Elena Rybakina can be world number one without playing at the US Open
Days passed, and there were no updates on her physical condition. Until, three days before the start of the draw, the Kazakh sent a positive but cautious message: “I am doing everything I can to recover, and so far, everything is going well. Unfortunately, I still haven't been able to play. We will try in the coming days, but everything seems fine, so I hope to be ready for the first match,” she assured in a recent interview with The Mirror UK Sports.
🚨BREAKING🚨 Elena Rybakina insisted that she is doing "everything possible" to compete at the US Open during our conversation at The Parliament
The World No. 2 was forced to retire against Iga Świątek in last week's Cincinnati quarterfinals after suffering a left leg injury pic.twitter.com/JF6UkUnixv— Matthew Neschis (@MNeschis) August 26, 2026
“These ten days have been very important, and I have a few more days to prepare. It also depends on when I play the first match, but we just don't want to rush. We are taking it slow, and I want to be completely sure that everything is fine,” concluded the 27-year-old tennis player.
It is worth noting that even if she does not participate in the US Open, she can still become the world number one. For that to happen, neither Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, nor Coco Gauff can win the title. If none of the three lifts the trophy on September 12, Elena Rybakina will ascend to the top of women's tennis.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rybakina no confirma al 100% su presencia en el US Open: "Quiero estar segura de que todo está bien"