Rybakina skips Eastbourne with viral illness ahead of Wimbledon
As Rybakina focuses on recuperation and Wimbledon preparation, doubts loom over her ability to defend her title successfully
June 27, 2023
In a setback ahead of Wimbledon, reigning champion Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the Eastbourne International due to a viral illness.
The world number three's absence from the warm-up event casts doubt on her ability to defend her title at the All England Club next week.
Rybakina, who claimed her major breakthrough by winning Wimbledon last year, has been steadily climbing up the world rankings in 2023. However, her preparations for this year's tournament have been hindered by health issues. Earlier this month, she withdrew from the French Open citing illness before her third-round match, and in the German Open last week, she suffered a surprise defeat to Donna Vekic.
Speaking about her withdrawal from Eastbourne, Rybakina expressed her disappointment and explained her decision: "Unfortunately, I have to withdraw here in Eastbourne today. I am still recovering from the virus I had in Paris, and after Roland Garros, it was really tough. 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."
The absence of the formidable Moscow-born Kazakh player at Eastbourne meant that Daria Kasatkina, currently the highest-ranked player in action, emerged victorious in her match against Anhelina Kalinina. Kasatkina will now face Karolina Pliskova in the second round after the Czech player advanced when Elise Mertens retired in the deciding set of their clash.
As Rybakina focuses on recuperation and Wimbledon preparation, doubts loom over her ability to defend her title successfully. The news comes as a blow to fans who were eagerly anticipating her performance at the prestigious tournament.
While Rybakina's withdrawal casts uncertainty over her Wimbledon campaign, there is still excitement in the tournament with the likes of Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Coco Gauff, and Petra Kvitova set to take the court on Tuesday.
With Wimbledon commencing on July 3, fans and tennis enthusiasts eagerly await updates on Rybakina's health and her ultimate decision regarding her participation in the tournament.
