Just In: Elena Rybakina Makes a Positive Move Just Before the US Open Begins, Offering Fans Fresh Hope Despite Ongoing Injury Doubts
There is more than just a Grand Slam title at stake for Elena Rybakina at this year’s US Open.
The Kazakh star will likely clinch world number one status by the end of the hard-court major, provided certain results go her way.
Rybakina can guarantee the top spot in the rankings if she reaches the semifinals of the US Open, regardless of the performances of Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff; the other three stars in contention for world number one.
Even if she does not feature at all, Rybakina could rise to world number one if none of Gauff, Pegula or Sabalenka win the tournament.
Promising signs emerge from Elena Rybakina’s camp
A withdrawal from the US Open looked possible for Rybakina after she suffered an injury in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open.
In the first set of her last-eight bout with Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati, Rybakina was forced to retire due to a left ankle injury.
She provided some concerning quotes after the retirement, stating she ‘could not even push from the serve’ and that it was ‘painful to walk.
Amid doubts that she would appear at the fourth and final Grand Slam of the season, Rybakina’s name appeared on the practice schedule three days before the main draw kicks off.
Rybakina is scheduled to play from 11 am to 12 pm on Thursday, August 27th.
Elena Rybakina’s record during the hard-court swing
Barring the injury, Rybakina has enjoyed a strong North American hard-court swing so far.
After a disappointing third round exit at Wimbledon, Rybakina bounced back at the Canadian Open, where she advanced all the way to the final.
In Toronto, Rybakina picked up big wins over Naomi Osaka and Cincinnati Open champion Gauff, before falling to Swiatek in the title-bout.
Prior to the injury in Cincinnati, Rybakina was off to a convincing start, having won each of her first three matches in straight sets.
The US Open is the major that Rybakina has struggled at the most over her career, with the 27-year-old’s best result in New York being a fourth-round finish, which she managed last year.
