Elena Rybakina Provides Injury Update Ahead of US Open: “I Don’t Want to Rush”

Elena Rybakina‘s participation at the US Open is uncertain, as she has been nursing a left ankle injury she suffered in her fourth-round match against Iga Swiatek at the Cincinnati Open. The US Open kicks off on August 30, but Rybakina hasn’t yet hit the practice courts.

Rybakina was enjoying decent form in the North American hard-court swing. Before her mid-match retirement in Cincinnati, the Kazakh ace reached the Canadian Open final, only to lose in straight sets to Swiatek.

If Rybakina withdraws from the US Open, it will mark the first time she will skip a Major event since making her debut at the 2019 French Open. The two-time Grand Slam champion, however, said in an interview with Mirror US that she is optimistic about her participation.

I picked up some injury [in my] last tournament, so I am trying to do everything possible to recover. And for now, it has been going well.

The US Open is the only Grand Slam tournament where Rybakina has yet to reach the quarterfinals. Last year, she crashed out after reaching the fourth round.

Unfortunately, I was not on the court yet. We will try it in the next few days, but yeah, it seems okay. So hopefully it’s going to be good for my first match. It was very important [to rest]. In total, I have like 10 days [to recover], and I still have a couple more to prepare. It depends also when it’s going to be my [first] match, but we just don’t want to rush, and yeah, just taking my time to be 100 percent.

Elena Rybakina added

🚨BREAKING🚨 Elena Rybakina insisted that she is doing "everything possible" to compete at the US Open during our conversation at The Parliament

The World No. 2 was forced to retire against Iga Świątek in last week's Cincinnati quarterfinals after suffering a left leg injury pic.twitter.com/JF6UkUnixv

— Matthew Neschis (@MNeschis) August 26, 2026

Because of the injury, she skipped the mixed doubles event, for which she had joined forces with Taylor Fritz. They paired up last year as well and lost in the opening round to eventual champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, both of whom crashed out this time, losing to the Russian pair of Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev in the opening round.

Rybakina has already added one Major title to her name this season. At the Australian Open, Rybakina, who lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final back in 2023, took her revenge with a four-set win in the final this year. She clinched her career’s first Major at the 2022 Wimbledon by beating Ons Jabeur.

Elena Rybakina could reach No.1 ranking if she plays the US Open

Aryna Sabalenka’s position on the rankings table is in danger. She will keep her spot only if she defends her US Open title. Three players can dethrone her: World No.2 Elena Rybakina, World No.3 Jessica Pegula, and World No.4 Coco Gauff. Sabalenka sits on top with 8,575 points, while Rybakina has 8,141, Pegula has 7,265, and Gauff has 6,704 points.

Gauff and Pegula will only reach the top if they win the US Open and Rybakina loses before the semifinals. If Rybakina reaches the semifinals, she will reach her career-best ranking.

Rybakina has played four finals so far this season. After her win over Sabalenka in Melbourne, she lost to the four-time Grand Slam singles champion at Indian Wells. Following her win over Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova in Stuttgart, she lost to Swiatek in Toronto.

Gauff, after losing two finals, finally ended her title drought at the Cincinnati Open by defeating Pegula. The 32-year-old has played five finals, winning in Dubai and Charleston, and losing in Berlin, Washington, and Cincinnati.

Sabalenka won titles in Brisbane, Indian Wells, and Miami, but has reached just one semifinal (at the Berlin Open) since completing the Sunshine Double. In Miami, she beat Gauff.

Also read: Andy Roddick Makes Gael Monfils Comment While Criticizing Stan Wawrinka’s US Open Wildcard Decision