Rybakina Retires Injured in Cincinnati Quarter‑Final, Ending World No.1 Bid
· Sports · BBC Sport, Al Jazeera
Elena Rybakina retired with a left ankle injury while trailing 4‑1 in the Cincinnati Open quarter‑final against Iga Swiatek. The withdrawal ended her attempt to reach the final and overtake Aryna Sabalenka for the world No.1 ranking after Sabalenka’s earlier upset. Rybakina said she could not push from the serve and will undergo an MRI the following day. Swiatek, the Australian Open champion, moved on to face world No.3 Jessica Pegula in the semi‑final. Swiatek added that she hopes Rybakina recovers in time for the US Open, which starts on 30 August in New York. Rybakina had been aiming to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014‑15 to successfully defend the Cincinnati title.
Why it matters
Rybakina's exit removes a key challenger for the top ranking and could affect her seeding at the US Open. Swiatek’s advance improves her chances of adding another major title ahead of the US Open season.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
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