Elena Rybakina brings New York flavor to China Open with Yankees nod as World No. 1 finally breaks injury absence
Elena Rybakina was spotted in Beijing ahead of the 2026 China Open wearing a New York Yankees cap. The WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing will mark the World No. 1 Kazakh’s first competitive outing since her US Open title triumph. Following her maiden title success in NYC, Rybakina confirmed that she had played the entirety of her campaign using painkillers to manage the effects of the left ankle and Achilles tendon injury she sustained in Cincinnati.
The No. 1’s exertions at Flushing Meadows, coupled with her need to recover fully from her injury troubles, led to her withdrawing from Kazakhstan’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals campaign. However, given the fact that the three-time Major champion has arrived in Beijing for the China Open, it’s safe to say she’s fully recovered and raring to go and challenge for a 15th WTA Tour-level singles title.
Check out a few pictures of Elena Rybakina in Beijing wearing a New York Yankees cap below:
As far as the cap is concerned, during a press conference at the US Open, Rybakina admitted that for her, the accessory reflects her growing fondness for New York City rather than a love for the Yankees as a fan.
Coming to her upcoming China Open campaign, Rybakina is set to be the top seed in Beijing, and with her biggest rivals Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek all set to take part in the tournament as well, the event promises to be an exciting one as the clock ticks closer to the year-end WTA Finals.
