Rybakina leaves French Open due to illness

Elena Rybakina pulled out of the French Open ahead of her third-round meeting with Sara Sorribes Tormo on Saturday due to a viral illness.

The Wimbledon champion said she had been unwell for the last two days and was out of breath during the warm-up before her match against Sorribes Tormo on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“I wasn’t feeling good yesterday and the day before so I didn’t sleep two nights and had some fever,” Rybakina told reporters. “Today I really tried during the warm-up but I feel that the right decision is to withdraw because it’s really tough to play in this condition. I saw the doctor, and they said that actually it’s all a virus here in Paris. I guess with my allergy, my immune system just went down and I picked up something.”

Elena Rybakina on withdrawal from Roland Garros:

“I had a fever, headache, I think you can hear it also…”

She sounds really ill. Her voice is raspy & it sounds like she’s been coughing all night. I’m surprised she even went to the press conference ❤️‍🩹

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Krejcikova comes from a set down to eliminate Rybakina at Wimbledon

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— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 3, 2023

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, 23, was among the title favourites alongside holder Iga Swiatek and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.

“I’m really upset not be able to play, but I guess that’s life,” Rybakina added. “There is a lot of ups and downs. Today I just wanted to give 100%, and obviously I’m far from being 100%.