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With tennis scheduled to kick off on Saturday at the Summer Games, WTA star Elena Rybakina has announced her withdrawal from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Kazakh explained that she fell ill with acute bronchitis after the Wimbledon Championships earlier in July and hasn't recovered since then.
The Kazakhstan Tennis Federation announced in June that Rybakina would be representing the country alongside Alexander Bublik, Yulia Putintseva, Alexander Shevchenko, and Aleksandr Nedovyesov at the Olympics.
On Thursday, the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation posted an open letter from the World No. 4 to her fans. In the letter, she announced her withdrawal and explained that she hadn't recovered from acute bronchitis which began after her participation at the Wimbledon Championships.
"Dear Kazakhstanis! It is hard for me to tell you this, but unfortunately, I will not be able to take part in the Olympics in Paris. After the Wimbledon tournament, I fell ill with acute bronchitis, and despite attempts to return to training, my body has not yet recovered. Doctors categorically forbade me to go out on the court," Elena Rybakina said.
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She also apologized to Kazakh fans for dashing their hopes. She recalled her performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when she was defeated in the bronze medal match by Ukraine's Elina Svitolina. Rybakina added that she had carefully prepared for this edition but feels sorry that she won't be able to represent the nation.
"I am very sorry that I will not be able to justify your hopes and compete for our team at the Olympics in Paris. I was so close to a medal in Tokyo and carefully prepared for the Paris Games to win gold for Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, illness prevented these plans from coming true."
"I wish all Kazakhstani athletes good luck and success in Paris! I will root for all our athletes and believe that they will be able to worthily represent our country at the Olympics. Alga, Kazakhstan!”
Following her withdrawal, French star Caroline Garcia will now take her seeded spot.
A brief look at Elena Rybakina's season before her withdrawal from the 2024 Paris Olympics
Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from a few tournaments this season due to illness. She withdrew from the Dubai Tennis Championships, the Indian Wells Masters, the Italian Open, and the ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin.
Rybakina has nevertheless had an impressive season so far. She started the season on a high note by reaching the final of the Brisbane International where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka to lift the trophy in January.
The following month, she won the Abu Dhabi Open by defeating Daria Kasatkina in the final. Rybakina won her third title of the season at the Stuttgart Open, where she outclassed Marta Kostyuk in the final with a straight-set victory. The 25-year-old also reached the finals of the Qatar Open and the Miami Open.
