World No. 2 Elena Rybakina retired from her Cincinnati Open quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek, trailing 4-1 in the first set. The Kazakh is dealing with a left ankle injury that casts serious doubt over her participation at the US Open, just ten days away.
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Visible discomfort from the start
Rybakina took the court with strapping around her left Achilles area. The opening games revealed clear discomfort: the Kazakh struggled to push off on her footwork and could not generate her usual power on serve, typically one of the most formidable weapons on tour. At 1-4 down, serving at 40-15, Rybakina missed a half volley at the net before visibly wincing on her next first serve. The medical evaluation that followed brought the match to an end.
The race for World No. 1 is over
The retirement puts a sudden end to one of Rybakina's key ambitions for the week. A Cincinnati title would have allowed her to overtake Aryna Sabalenka for the World No. 1 ranking. Sabalenka herself was knocked out in the round of 16 by Sara Bejlek the previous evening. Both of the world's top two players leave Ohio without reaching the quarterfinals stage, a scenario no one had anticipated.
The US Open is the real concern
Beyond the rankings, it is Rybakina's availability for the US Open that is generating the most alarm. "It was even painful to walk," the Kazakh admitted after her retirement, offering no timeline for her return. The final Grand Slam of the season begins on September 1 at Flushing Meadows, leaving a very narrow window to recover from an ankle injury.
Rybakina joins a growing list of absentees and doubts for New York. Carlos Alcaraz, the defending men's champion, has not played since April due to a wrist injury. Jannik Sinner, the ATP World No. 1, withdrew from Cincinnati with a right knee problem and has not competed on the North American continent this summer. Holger Rune, sidelined since his Achilles tendon rupture in October 2025, has so far refused to withdraw but has yet to return to competition.
Key numbers
Rybakina, 27, remains World No. 2 with 8,920 WTA ranking points. Her 2026 season includes two WTA 1000 titles, a 42-9 win-loss record, and a runner-up finish at the Australian Open. Swiatek, through to the Cincinnati semifinals, will face Jessica Pegula, who defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4) in the other quarterfinal. (Sources: WTA, ESPN, Tennis Majors)
