The WTA Tour has been shocked with a tough news on the intense competition of the US Open as the world no. 4 Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the US Open after she suffered a lower back injury. This guaranteed Jessika Ponchet to move on to the next round of the competition as she walked over the set match.

Rybakina came off a promising pace heading into the US Open. She managed to defeat Destanee Aiava in the first round in straight sets to move on to the next round. The matchup against Ponchet was set to be even an easier win for her. However, it seems that her lower back problems have become quite a nuisance for her to continue competing at a high level in the US Open. This forced the Kazakhstani star to pull out of the competition and opt to retire from the hard-court major instead.

Ponchet, on the other hand, is now slated to move on to Round 3, which is slated to be played tomorrow. She will have to battle against Danish star Caroline Wozniacki with the hopes of continuing her impressive run. The French star has made her way right from the tournament’s qualifying stage.

An Unfortunate Exit

Rybakina started the 2024 Tour on an impressive note. The 2022 Wimbledon champion went on to win two of her first four tournaments played, and it cannot be denied that the recent flurry of injuries has hampered her pace in the game as she struggled to come up with a consistent form.

As if those injuries didn’t hold her back from her best form, a case of bronchitis even went in the way of her post-Wimbledon runs. Rybakina was forced to withdraw from the Paris Olympics and in Toronto. She did try to get her pace back into the winning side in the Cincinnati Open, only to fall to Leylah Fernandez in the first match she played in the tournament.

Now, the world no. 4 is out of the picture for the US Open – a major that could have lifted her up in the rankings.

“Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from my match today due to my injuries," Rybakina said of her abrupt exit in the US Open. "I did not want to finish the last Grand Slam of the year this way but I have to listen to my body, and I hope I can close out the remainder of the year strong. Thank you to all the fans who have and continue to support me, and I wish the remaining players good luck.”

More than a Lower Back Injury

Recent discussions on the forum site Reddit claimed that the Kazakhstani star was facing stomach issues, even saying that it is a chronic disease. Users point out that this is a side effect of her use of treatments for autoimmune diseases. However, discussions went as far as to compare her to other players who’ve had the same issues.

Rybakina was seen heading to the side bench and sitting down for the meantime. It did look like the star was about to throw up, then she later ran off the court and would lead to the retirement for the match.

Many fans also speculate that the star’s health has been on decline ever since she opted to part ways with her coach Stefano Vukov. Rybakina’s exit from the US Open also marks the eighth total withdrawal this year, and her undisclosed injury in the tournament just raises further concerns now more than ever.