Elina Svitolina, currently ranked world No. 9, has officially withdrawn from the 2026 Cincinnati Open due to a persistent right ankle injury that originated at the Toronto Open. The Ukrainian player was scheduled to face Wang Xiyu in the tournament’s third round but pulled out before stepping on court, granting Wang a walkover into the Round of 16.
This setback comes after Svitolina’s challenging run at the Canadian Open, where the ankle first became problematic during her semifinal match against eventual champion Iga Świątek. Despite the injury, Svitolina pushed through to compete in Cincinnati’s second round against Tereza Valentová. The match was a grueling battle in which Svitolina endured seven match points against her, took a medical timeout, and ultimately dominated the deciding set 6-0 to secure victory.
Recovery Struggles Force Withdrawal
Unfortunately for Svitolina, the short interval between her second-round win and the upcoming third-round match gave her insufficient time to fully recover. Speaking about her decision to withdraw, she acknowledged the ongoing impact of the injury: “Unfortunately I tried my best to recover, but the injury I sustained in Toronto and also pushed by the second round match, I didn’t recover as I wish I could.”
She added that medical advice influenced her choice, explaining, “I’ve been advised by the doctors to take a little bit of time to rest and recover completely. [I’m] very sad to pull out this round.”
With Svitolina’s exit confirmed, Wang Xiyu advances automatically to the Round of 16, where she will meet American player Madison Keys, who remains a favorite on home soil.