Viral illness hits Rybakina before Wimbledon defence

Viral illness hits Rybakina before Wimbledon defence

Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the Eastbourne International citing a virus sickness. only a week earlier than she’s attributable to defend her Wimbledon title.

Eastbourne, the place Rybakina was seeded No.1, made the announcement earlier than the Kazakh star’s scheduled first-round match on Monday.

Moscow-born Rybakina made her main breakthrough by successful the title at Wimbledon final 12 months and has steadily gone up the world rankings in 2023.

She was among the many favourites for the French Open however pulled out of Roland Garros forward of her third-round assembly with Sara Sorribes Tormo earlier this month, additionally attributable to a viral sickness.

Rybakina, who additionally misplaced to Donna Vekic within the spherical of 16 in Berlin final week, mentioned: “Unfortunately, I have to withdraw here in Eastbourne today.

“I’m nonetheless recovering from the virus I had in Paris and after Roland Garros it was actually powerful.

“I also picked up another small issue in Berlin, so my team and I decided it would be better to recover this week and prepare for Wimbledon.”

Source: www.perthnow.com.au