Between illness and setbacks, Rybakina’s talent left unfulfilled after latest setback
Elena Rybakina continued what has been an unwelcome streak for fans of the World No.4 and that is yet another withdrawal from the US Open this time.
This continues an unwanted streak for the Kazakh who has withdrawn from an astonishing number of big tournaments this season. It has been 8 in all that have been withdrawn from in what is more frustration from those in the tennis community.
Rybakina when she is on is one of if not the best player in the world with a game style that puts fear into opponents. But it seems to be that she is more fearing herself and illness reoccurring than anything else. It was a torrid US Open in particular for her as she split with Stefano Vukov in the days prior and then won her first match before swiftly withdrawing mere hours before her match with Jessika Ponchet.
Now the Frenchwoman has a big chance in facing veteran Dane, Caroline Wozniacki. But it sums up her season with setback after setback seeming to crop up. Add in the rumours that have transpired regarding Vukov who reportedly has been removed from the coaches list and banned, it adds more than enough fuel to the fire.
Rennae Stubbs herself spoke about everything not being right in the camp of the Kazakh and that has been an understatement. She is still third in the race though despite not playing eight big tournaments paying heed to the fact that when she is on, she is on. But when she is off, it is a tough watch and one usually with illness or injury playing a part.
Last season was a bit more easier for Rybakina albeit she had long COVID which derailed her after a great Spring. But it has been a season of stops and starts. No issues in Australia but during the Middle Eastern swing and Sunshine Double, it was the start of the problems.
She had a gastrointestinal illness twice (usually food poisoning or stomach flu), Indian Wells was missed but she reached the final in Miami. This though pays credence to the fact that she is often on but then gets ill either prior or after.
Then all of the following swings have seen at least one illness. Rome was withdrawn from and was the only tournament she missed on clay. Berlin abdominal pain was the reason and she didn’t play Eastbourne.
Her latest setback then came at the Olympic Games which has offset the rest of this part of the season. She got bronchitis and there was fear that she would even make it to the US Open. Reports from back home seemed to indicate that she went on holiday to Turkey in order to recuperate and in reality she was still not 100% when returning to Bratislava to train.
Missing Canada as a result, she was not expected back for a while but suddenly cropped up in Cincinnati, perhaps rushed back too soon which could’ve been a reasoning behind the split with Vukov. She then lost to Fernandez early on and headed into the US Open undercooked and not looking great. She barely practiced in the lead-up so alarm bells rang in terms of her participation.
Often a pre-cursor to a withdrawal as seen at the Olympic Games, it was down to a coaching change more than anything it seemed. But an undisclosed injury was behind her withdrawal this time. Vague a bit like her season.
More than meets to the eye could be the assessment on Rybakina. A player certainly not fulfilling her undoubted talents and likely not due to any fault of her own. A puzzle that likely won’t be solved for the rest of the season at least.
