Elena Rybakina gives worrying injury update after progressing to Australian Open fourth round
World No. 7 Elena Rybakina took a medical timeout just after three games in the first set during her third-round match.
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Elena Rybakina (Image via X)
Elena Rybakina got the better of her third-round opponent Dayana Yastremska despite struggling with a lower back problem. Ryabkina needed just 90 minutes to defeat the Ukrainian 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday (January 18) inside the John Cain Arena.
The Kazakh ace took a medical timeout after just three games in the first set and admitted later that playing with the injury throughout the match wasn’t easy for her. She tried to finish the match quickly as she wanted to avoid long rallies, which would have worsened her problem, leading to an early defeat.
Well honestly, I didn’t know how it’s gonna go because it came out of a sudden. I didn’t expect. And of course, it was not easy. I knew that it would be very difficult for me to stay long in the rally so, I was just trying to play aggressively. Sometimes risked a little bit more. So, yeah, really happy that it went on my way in the end.
Elena Rybakina said during her on-court interview
The 2022 Wimbledon champion, who was the finalist at Melbourne Park in 2023, will need some magic if she wants to go deep in the tournament.
Not really. So, [when] I will hopefully see my physio, he does some magic.
Elena Rybakina added
Rybakina on her injury after her win over Yastremska at Australian Open
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 18, 2025
Elena: “Honestly I didn’t know how it would go. It came suddenly. It wasn’t easy..”
“Does it feel better now?”
Elena: “Not really. Hopefully my physio can do some magic.” 🙏
pic.twitter.com/GmkaZe94PC
Rybakina dealt with injury issues throughout the season last year. She has revealed that she suffered from insomnia, which affected her immune system, which is why she took a break following her withdrawal from the US Open.
Elena Rybakina will meet Madison Keys or Danielle Collins in the fourth round
Elena Rybakina, who eased past Emerson Jones and Iva Jovic, will be locking horns with either Danielle Collins or Madison Keys in the fourth round on Monday. Collins and Keys beat Destanee Aiava and Elena-Gabriela Ruse respectively in their second-round matches.
The 25-year-old has met Collins five times and leads 3-2 in their head-to-head meeting. But it was Collins who won their last encounter, in the 2024 Miami Open final.
Against Keys, however, Rybakina is 2-2. In their last meeting in the fourth round of the 2024 Miami Open, it was Rybakina who emerged as the winner.
The World No.7 lost the 2023 Australian Open final to current World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and suffered a three-set upset to Anna Blinkova in the second round in Melbourne last year. She started her campaign in Melbourne following the United Cup, where she helped Kazakhstan reach the semifinals.
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Gouri Das
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