Kazakh Elena Rybakina, ill, has withdrawn from the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome, of which she is the defending champion, the organizers announced on Friday.
“I am very disappointed to have to withdraw from the 2024 edition of this tournament, but unfortunately, I do not feel well enough to participate,” declared the 4th player in the world quoted in the organizers’ press release.
Rybakina was due to enter the fray on Friday in the second round against Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu (161st). She was replaced in the main draw by Frenchwoman Océane Dodin (73rd), eliminated in the 2nd round of qualifying.
Rybakina, 24, remained in a semi-final in Madrid and had won the tournament in Stuttgart the previous week. She has already won three titles in 2023.
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