Elena Rybakina withdraws from the US Open

Elena Rybakina has won only one match since making the Wimbledon semi-finals in July, recapping a disastrous summer for her.

Elena Rybakina withdraws from the US Open

Elena Rybakina (via X)

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina has joined the list of WTA players withdrawing from this year’s US Open. The Russian-born player gave unseeded Jessika Ponchet a walkover into the third round.

Rybakina had advanced to the second round of the US Open on Tuesday (August 27) after a 6-1, 7-6 win over Destanee Aiava. However, she was unable to confirm her participation in the second round after missing several practice sessions.

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Rybakina joins Karolina Pliskova on the withdrawal list on Thursday (August 29). The Czech player was also unable to compete against Jasmine Paolini, managing to make it to the court but lasting only three points.

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Rybakina’s withdrawal from the US Open highlights her chaotic run since reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon. She skipped the Paris Olympics and lost in the first round at the Cincinnati Open before the US Open.

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Elena Rybakina recently split with coach Stefano Vukov

Elena Rybakina surprised fans by announcing her separation from her longtime coach, Stefano Vukov. She began working with Vukov in February 2019 when she was still competing in ITF events. Together, they achieved significant success, including winning Wimbledon and reaching the Australian Open final, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka. They also secured two WTA-1000 titles. However, the US Open was their least successful Grand Slam, with Rybakina’s best results there being two third-round appearances.

Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina (via Imago)

Despite their achievements, Vukov’s coaching style often faced criticism. Rybakina, known for her calm demeanor on the court, had a coach who was much more expressive during matches. Some people felt that his comments toward her were too harsh. However, the Kazakh player defended Vukov, explaining that he was only trying to help her.

When Rybakina announced their split, she kept her statement brief. She confirmed they were no longer working together, thanked Vukov for his efforts, and wished him well. She also expressed gratitude to her fans for their ongoing support.

The reason behind their split remains unclear, leaving fans to wonder if there were issues behind the scenes. It will be interesting to see who Rybakina chooses as her next coach. There have been several coaching changes on the WTA Tour this year, with Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina also parting ways with their coaches. Rybakina hopes that moving on from Vukov will not affect her performance in upcoming tournaments.

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