Elena Rybakina’s drive for the world No. 1 ranking in women’s tennis is on pause.
The Kazakhstan star retired from her Cincinnati Open quarterfinal against Poland’s Iga Swiatek with an apparent injury while trailing 4-1 on Thursday.
Rybakina went to shake hands after appearing to be able to put only little weight on her leg after a serve.
The world No. 2 also lost to Swiatek in a one-sided final of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers last week in Toronto.
Rybakina could have overtaken the struggling Aryna Sabalenka for No. 1 if she advanced to the final in Cincinnati. Sabalenka, from Belarus, has been No. 1 since October 2024.
Now, Rybakina’s health will be one of the big stories heading into the US Open later this month.
The surging Swiatek won her first tournament of the year in Toronto. The No. 7 seed will face No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the U.S. in the Cincinnati semifinals.
