Global Courant
Elena Rybakina, the number 4 female player in the world, withdrew from the French Open on Saturday due to what was described as an upper respiratory condition.
She would face Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in the third round.
“I just wanted to give 100%, and of course I’m still far from 100%,” said Rybakina. “If I can’t breathe, there’s no way I can even run and try to compete.”
Rybakina is also the reigning Wimbledon champion after beating Ons Jabeur in three sets in July to win the first Grand Slam of her career.
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Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina talks to the media following her injury withdrawal ahead of the third round at Roland Garros on June 3, 2023 in Paris (Robert Prange/Getty Images)
The match between Rybakina and Sorribes Tormo in Paris was scheduled to start shortly before noon local time.
Instead, Rybakina sat in front of a microphone around the time the match was due to begin explaining to reporters why she was quitting.
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Rybakina sounded noticeably constipated as she revealed she’s been having trouble sleeping for the past two days, in part because of a fever.
She also said she had trouble breathing while warming up before a game on Saturday. She said a doctor had told her there was a virus going around “here in Paris.”
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in action against Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova in the second round at Roland Garros on June 1, 2023 in Paris (Robert Prange/Getty Images)
Rybakina, who won each of her first two matches in straight sets this week, was considered one of the top contenders for the championship at Roland Garros. She has won her last 10 matches, including a tuneup title on red clay at the Italian Open last month.
She plays a power game based in part on one of the best serves on the WTA Tour, which she leads with aces this season.
Elena Rybakina at Roland Garros 2023 in Paris on June 1, 2023. (Photo Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rybakina is a 23-year-old born in Moscow and has been representing Kazakhstan since 2018, when that country offered her money to support her tennis career.
The substitution was the subject of talk at Wimbledon as the All England Club banned athletes representing Russia or Belarus from competing in the 2022 tournament due to the war in Ukraine.
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Rybakina’s forfeit allows 26-year-old Sorribes Tormo to advance to the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
