Photo via Yahoo Sports

Elena Rybakina Withdraws From Wuhan Just Days After China Open Upset

World No. 1 Elena Rybakina pulled out of the Wuhan Open on Sunday, just one day after suffering an unexpected second-round defeat at the China Open in Beijing.

The Kazakhstani star lost 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 to unseeded Alina Charaeva, marking her first match since claiming the US Open title and overtaking Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the WTA rankings. Rybakina’s withdrawal was attributed to a persistent foot injury, which she first noticed late in the China Open match, raising concerns about her fitness for the remainder of the season.

The result also made history, as Charaeva became the lowest-ranked player in WTA history to overcome a set down and defeat the top seed, joining only Naomi Osaka as someone to have dropped their first match as world No. 1.

With the Wuhan Open now without Rybakina, her next scheduled event is the Ningbo 500, though her participation remains uncertain due to her injury. Despite the setback, her lead in the WTA Finals race remains secure, with over 1,000 points separating her from Sabalenka, who exited the China Open in the third round.

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