Elena Rybakina was forced to retire from her quarterfinal match against Iga Świątek at the 2026 Cincinnati Open due to a left ankle injury, abruptly halting her pursuit of the world No. 1 ranking.
The injury occurred during an awkward landing at the net while Rybakina was trailing 1-4 in the opening set. The tournament’s No. 2 seed revealed that her ankle had been troubling her for some time, with the condition worsening after consecutive weeks competing in Toronto and Cincinnati.
Elena Rybakina Injury Derails Opening Set
Rybakina described the pain as severe enough to affect walking and stated that further evaluation, including an MRI scheduled for the following day, would provide more clarity. She attributed the injury to “one wrong movement, one landing,” which ultimately forced her to retire from the match.
This unexpected withdrawal ended her chance to claim the No. 1 ranking, a goal that required her to reach the Cincinnati Open final. The opportunity had emerged after current top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated in the fourth round by Sara Bejlek earlier in the week. With Rybakina out, Sabalenka retains the top spot as the tennis world turns its attention to the 2026 US Open later this month.
Iga Świątek Advances to 2026 Cincinnati Open Semifinals
Meanwhile, Iga Świątek progressed to the semifinals, extending her winning streak to 10 matches following her recent triumph at the Canadian Open. Despite her advancement, Świątek admitted that witnessing Rybakina’s injury during the match was unsettling.