“I’ve been struggling a bit,” Elena Rybakina reveals the reason behind her withdrawal from tournaments leading up to Roland Garros

Rybakina revealed that though she is feeling better, sleep issues and allergies affected her. 

“I’ve been struggling a bit,” Elena Rybakina reveals the reason behind her withdrawal from tournaments leading up to Roland Garros

Elena Rybakina (Image via Imago)

Even though Elena Rybakina has won three titles this season, illnesses made her miss tournaments. Her French Open preparations were also hampered by an illness which forced her to withdraw from the Italian Open. 

After her win over Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2 at the Roland Garros, Rybakina was asked in the press conference if she was feeling healthy and how the illness affected her preparations for the Grand Slam event. Rybakina revealed that though she is feeling better, sleep issues and allergies affected her. 

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Yes. I mean, I've been struggling a bit with sleep, and some issues. So, of course, I had to skip tournaments. Also, allergies and everything. Now I'm feeling pretty well and focused.
Elena Rybakina said 

When Rybakina was asked to explain what’s causing her sleep deprivation, she said incessant work has affected it which in turn impacted her recovery. She refrained from explaining further by saying she didn’t know how to answer the question. 

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Such answers from Rybakina have caught the attention of the fans, some of whom criticized her manner, while some opined that the journalists needed to ask better questions. 

Elena Rybakina recalls her Roland Garros match against Serena Williams 

The last time Elena Rybakina advanced to the fourth round of Roland Garros, she faced 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. It was in 2021 when the Kazakh created the biggest upset by beating the three-time Roland Garros champion in straight sets 6-3, 7-5. 

Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina (Image via Imago)

It was the only time in her career Rybakina faced the tennis legend. At the press conference of the ongoing Roland Garros, Rybakina was asked to comment on that match. 

Yeah, I remember I was super nervous coming out on the court. It was a privilege to play against Serena. I remember that after that she actually didn't play many matches, so it was a privilege to play against her. 
Elena Rybakina said 

Rybakina will next face the winner of the third-round match between Elina Svitolina and Ana Bogdan. Before beating Elise Mertens, Rybakina easily went past Greet Minnen and Arantxa Rus in the first two rounds in straight sets. 

The 2022 Wimbledon champion’s best result at Roland Garros came in 2021 when she reached the quarterfinals after overcoming Williams but lost the match to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets 6-7, 6-2, 9-7. Last year, Rybakina withdrew from the third-round match of the Roland Garros against Sara Sorribes Tormo due to an upper respiratory illness. 

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