Rybakina pulls out of US Open

World No 4 Elena Rybakina withdrew from the US Open on Thursday, sending French qualifier Jessika Ponchet into the third round by walkover.

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The Russian-born Kazakh, who won Wimbledon in 2022, had beaten Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava in the first round.

The reason for her withdrawal was not announced.

Rybakina had revealed days before the tournament that she had ended a five-year partnership with coach Stefano Vukov, although she shut down questions about that move in the press conference after her win over Aiava.

Rybakina also withdrew from the Paris Olympics, two weeks after she was stunned by Czech Barbora Krejcikova in the semifinals at Wimbledon – where Rybakina was an overwhelming favourite to sweep to a second straight title.

Rybakina leads the WTA tour in aces this season with 332 and won titles in Stuttgart, Brisbane and Abu Dhabi.

She was a finalist at the Australian Open in 2023, but the US Open remains the only Grand Slam in which she has never reached the fourth round.