Elena Rybakina walks out of Dubai with sudden bouts of gastric illness

Elena Rybakina was set to play Jasmine Paolini in her quarterfinal match at the WTA 1000 event.

Elena Rybakina walks out of Dubai with sudden bouts of gastric illness

Elena Rybakina (Image via X)

In an unfortunate turn of events, Kazakhstan tennis ace Elena Rybakina pulled out of the Dubai Tennis Championships before her quarterfinal match against Jasmine Paolini.

The World No. 4 walked out of the WTA 1000 tournament due to a gastrointestinal illness. Rybakina pulling out means Paolini will advance to her first WTA 1000 semifinal. 

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Rybakina, who started the season on a high as she won the Brisbane International, felt the physical toll and hence has decided to take a break. The 24-year-old said that while she is happy about the wins that are coming her way, she can feel the dip in her physical level.

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I'm happy that I'm still winning the matches. But I can see by the level that of course physically and everything it's dropping a bit. I don't know how much I can push and how much I can recover in this half day.
Elena Rybakina said. (H/T: WTA)

Elena Rybakina’s 2024 season so far

Elena Rybakina has been among the top players on the WTA tour for some time now. The Kazakh ace has shown it through her performances in the 2024 season so far. Rybakina won the very first tournament she played this year, the Brisbane International.

Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina (via Imago)

The World No.4 beat Aryna Sabalenka in the final. However, Rybakina saw a dip in form in the next two tournaments. While she had a third-round exit at the Adelaide International, Rybakina could not defend her final run at the 2024 Australian Open. She bowed out of the year’s first Grand Slam after losing to Anna Blinkova in the second round.

The Kazakh ace then pulled her socks up in the Middle East leg of the tour as she won the Abu Dhabi Open by beating Daria Kasatkina in the final. She also reached the final in Doha where Iga Swiatek got the best out of her.

Now, Rybakina swiftly won her first two matches at the Dubai Tennis Championships and advanced to the quarterfinal. However, the physical toll means she cannot continue competing on the tour. It is to be seen how quickly Rybakina recovers.

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