August 29, (THEWILL) – Elena Rybakina, world number four, has pulled out of the 2024 US Open, allowing French qualifier Jessika Ponchet to move into the third round without playing.
The Kazakh player, who won Wimbledon in 2022, had beaten Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava in the first round. The reason for her withdrawal was not given. Rybakina recently ended her five-year working relationship with coach Stefano Vukov but refused to discuss this decision after her victory over Aiava.
Despite leading the WTA tour in aces this season with 332 and winning titles in Stuttgart, Brisbane and Abu Dhabi, Rybakina has never reached the fourth round at the US Open. She was a finalist at the Australian Open in 2023.
This withdrawal comes as a surprise, given Rybakina’s strong performance this season. Her absence from the tournament opens up opportunities for other players to advance further in the competition.
The US Open will continue without Rybakina, with fans and analysts now watching to see how her absence might affect the tournament’s dynamics and outcomes.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
