The fourth-seeded Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina withdrew before her match in the third round of the Roland Garros due to “fever and headache”.
“I haven’t slept well the last few nights, I’ve had a fever and a headache”, said Elena Rybakina. “It’s hard to be competitive, to run and even to breathe, and this is the only decision I could make”, explained she.
The winner of the WTA 1000 Rome Open last month and a finalist at the Australian Open, the 23-year-old Elena Rybakina was among the contenders for title in Paris.
“Today I tried to warm up, but I think the right decision is to withdraw because it is very difficult to play in these circumstances”, added she.
Elena Rybakina won her first two matches at Roland Garros against the Brenda Fruhvirtova 9czech Republic) by 2-0 (6:4, 6:2) and Linda Noskova (Czech Republic) by 2-0 (6:3, 6:3). However, Elena Rybakina started to feel the symptoms “after her second match”.
“I’m disappointed I can’t play. That’s life, there are highs and lows. I wanted to be 100% today, but it’s obvious that I’m far from that. I didn’t have a chance. Now I have to recover and do my best to be ready for the season of grass,”, said Elena Rybakina.
Elena Rybakina, who was born in Moscow, is the reigning Wimbledon champion, and this year the tournament will be from July 3 to 16.
Her walkover allowed Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain) to advance to the Round of 16.
