Elena Rybakina retired from her Cincinnati Open quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek on Thursday night after suffering what appeared to be a left ankle injury, ending a match that carried significant ranking implications for the 27-year-old.
She was trailing 4-1 and serving at deuce in the first set when she took a medical timeout to have trainers address her left ankle. She had appeared to injure herself during the previous point. After several minutes of treatment, she returned to the court and attempted one serve before deciding she could not continue.
The timing was particularly costly because Rybakina had a clear path to the world No. 1 ranking. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka lost earlier Thursday night to Sara Bejlek, which meant that a Rybakina run to the final would have been enough to push her to the top of the WTA rankings. With the retirement, that window is gone.
Swiatek advances to the semifinals as the defending champion who won the Toronto title last week. She has reached at least the semifinals in each of her last four appearances in Cincinnati.
What the retirement means for the draw
With Rybakina out, Swiatek moves into position to make another deep run. Swiatek has won nine consecutive matches and has not dropped a set this week. She is the prohibitive favorite to reach the final.
The Sabalenka and Rybakina losses on Thursday night remove both top seeds before the semifinals, an unusual outcome at an event of this caliber. Any player reaching the final this weekend does so in an open field with real ranking implications.
Rybakina’s US Open position
Rybakina arrived in Cincinnati on the back of her Toronto title run the previous week. She had not dropped a set through her Cincinnati matches before the ankle issue.
Her US Open status depends on how quickly the ankle heals. She did not immediately comment on her plans.
She won the Australian Open and a Stuttgart title earlier this year and is one of the more dangerous hard-court players on the WTA Tour. An extended ankle issue heading into a Grand Slam would be a meaningful setback given the physical demands of a two-week major.
Swiatek’s form and what comes next
Swiatek’s path to the final will depend on her semifinal opponent. The Cincinnati Open quarterfinals continued Thursday night with several other matches still to be played.
Back-to-back titles on the North American hard court swing, the last tuneup before the US Open, would be the strongest possible statement heading into Flushing Meadows.
