Elena Rybakina Reveals Difficulties in Overcoming the Painful Cincinnati Injury to Make the US Open Start Line

World No.2 Elena Rybakina has revealed that she was left struggling to walk without pain just days before arriving at Flushing Meadows. This cast serious doubt over her participation in the final Grand Slam of the season.

In her pre-tournament press conference, the Kazakh star admitted that the initial aftermath of the retirement was deeply alarming because she could not even walk normally around her hotel room for several consecutive days.

She noted that consulting with various medical specialists became her top priority immediately upon returning from Ohio, leading to a complete seven-day shutdown from on-court tennis activities to let the acute inflammation subside.

I didn’t play for an exact week. We consulted with different doctors. I’ve been doing the recovery. I slowly started to go on the court. A lot of gym. It wasn’t easy because we didn’t know exactly how the foot is going to react. It was very painful for me to go and serve in that match in Cincinnati… Because I wanted to try once more. For a couple days it was painful to even walk. We managed to do everything possible for it to get better. I’m glad how the process is going for now.

Her rehabilitation program relied heavily on intensive gym conditioning and extremely cautious, gradual hitting sessions once her foot showed minimal initial tolerance for baseline impact. Despite the bleak outlook immediately following her exit in Ohio, she expressed genuine relief that her recovery trajectory over the past week has drastically exceeded initial expectations.

Elena Rybakina says it was painful for her to even walk after her injury in Cincinnati, but she’s happy with the healing progress, ‘Being here today in this situation is really an amazing improvement’

“I didn’t play for an exact week. We consulted with different doctors. I’ve… pic.twitter.com/lvAhFUt71m

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 29, 2026

Reflecting on the psychological hurdle of missing an entire week of practice right before the final major of the season, Rybakina emphasized that she feels entirely confident in the daily protocol managed by her team. She acknowledged that regaining full confidence in her movement on hard courts takes time after such an abrupt layoff, but she remains optimistic that a few final days of preparation will have her fully ready.

Championship stakes and ranking opportunities

Elena Rybakina arrives at the 2026 US Open holding the number two seed position, placing her in a prime position to challenge for the coveted WTA world number one ranking currently occupied by Aryna Sabalenka. Mathematical projections show that the 2027 Australian Open champion can capture the top spot regardless of other results across the tournament if she successfully advances to the semifinals.

Despite the massive ranking implications, the 27-year-old has consistently downplayed external permutations, insisting her sole focus remains on physical preservation. Having already captured a Grand Slam title earlier in the season, she views consistency at majors as a vital goal, especially after suffering early exits at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The fierce battle at the top of the women’s rankings features multiple contenders, including Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff, all mathematically capable of making a push for number one depending on deep fortnight runs. However, Rybakina maintains that chasing rankings while managing a recovering foot is counterproductive, prioritizing a strict match-by-match approach over watching the scoreboard.

With the tournament offering substantial ranking points and prestigious hardware, navigating the opening rounds safely will dictate whether her ranking ambitions materialize into a historic ascent. Her ability to balance aggressive court tactics with physical caution will ultimately define how deep she can push into the second week.

Navigating the Flushing Meadows path

The official women’s singles draw places Elena Rybakina in the bottom quarter of the bracket, setting her up with an opening-round encounter against American wildcard entry Thea Frodin. This opening match gives the second seed a chance to test her movement and serve speed under pressure without facing top-tier opposition immediately.

As she moves deeper into the bracket, potential hurdles loom large in her section, with dangerous unseeded threats and seeded opponents like Maria Sakkari and Naomi Osaka waiting in the wings. Furthermore, the bracket structure places her on a direct collision course with eighth seed Iga Swiatek for a blockbuster quarterfinal rematch, reviving their fierce rivalry on hard courts.

Navigating through these high-profile rounds will demand absolute precision from her baseline game, particularly if her footwork is still slightly restricted from the recent Cincinnati layoff. Unlike top-half rival Aryna Sabalenka, who avoids the major quarterfinal blockbusters, Rybakina must endure a grueling path that tests both her tactical range and physical resilience.

Ultimately, how her body absorbs the physical strain of early-round matches will dictate her survival through this challenging quadrant of the draw. If her serve functions at its usual destructive level and her foot holds up to sliding on hard courts, she possesses all the tools required to conquer her quarter and make a serious push for the title.

Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz Accepts Grounded Expectations at the US Open After Long Injury Layoff