By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, October 5, 2026
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
Elena Rybakina’s Asian swing may be a short stay.
New world No. 1 Rybakina withdrew from this month’s Wuhan Open due to an injury issue, the tournament announced today.
The announcement comes after Rybakina crashed out of Beijing in her maiden match as world No. 1. World No. 118 Alina Charaeva shocked the three-time Grand Slam champion in three sets.
Reigning US Open and Australian Open champion Rybakina joined Naomi Osaka as the second woman to lose her first match as world No. 1.
“I’m very sorry to the fans who were looking forward to seeing me play,” Rybakina posted on Instagram. “I’ll take some time to rest and recover.
“Thank you for your understanding and continued support. See you next year.”
A year ago, Rybakina lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the Wuhan quarterfinals and went on to win the Ningbo Open title in China before reaching the Tokyo semifinals and ending the season stopping Sabalenka for the WTA Finals crown.
What will Rybakina’s calendar ahead of the WTA Finals at Indian Wells this fall look like given her injury issue?
Rybakina suffered an apparent left Achilles injury that forced her to retire from the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals in August after only five games.
Initially, Rybakina was uncertain she could recover in time for the US Open.
Despite the left leg issue, Rybakina knocked off Osaka, gold-medal champion Qinwen Zheng, Coco Gauff and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in succession to capture her maiden US Open championship.
In her Beijing presser, Rybakina said her primary goals are to stay healthy, finish the year as season-ending world No. 1 and eventually win Roland Garros to complete the career Grand Slam.
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