Elena Rybakina explains shock Beijing defeat after becoming world No. 1: “It was a very tough day”
WTA
Elena Rybakina has explained her shock Beijing defeat after admitting that she had little time to sleep and recover following her US Open triumph. The Kazakh also revealed that she felt discomfort in her foot during the match as her first tournament as world No. 1 ended in the second round.
Rybakina was playing her first match since taking the top ranking from Aryna Sabalenka with her run to the US Open title three weeks ago. However, world No. 118 Alina Charaeva came from a set down to defeat her 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 and claim the biggest win of her career.
The top seed appeared to be in control after recovering from an early break to take the opening set. She then moved ahead by a break in the second, but Charaeva fought back to level the match before taking the only break of the deciding set.
It was an unexpected early exit for Rybakina, who had won her third Grand Slam title only 20 days before returning to competition in China Open. The Kazakh had also withdrawn from Kazakhstan's Billie Jean King Cup campaign after the US Open, citing the physical demands of the period.
Rybakina admits she needed more recovery
Rybakina did not use the defeat to take anything away from Charaeva, but acknowledged that the weeks following her US Open victory had left her with limited time to rest.
"Obviously it was a very tough day out there. There was a lot going on after the US Open victory. I didn't get a lot of chances to sleep and recover,” Rybakina explained at press conference. “Congratulations to Alina. She played a very good match, and I felt my foot a little bit at the end of the match. So it's time to rest a little bit and see what is next in the upcoming weeks.”
The 27-year-old had not played a competitive match since winning the US Open final against Sabalenka. Her return to action therefore came with the additional attention of being the new world No. 1, a position she had reached for the first time in her career.
Rybakina's comments also provide further context to her decision to skip the Billie Jean King Cup. Rather than immediately returning to competition after Beijing, she now plans to take another week away from the tour to focus on her recovery.
"Thank you to all the fans for supporting and see you next year Beijing. Next I will take a week to rest and hopefully get my foot back to 100% so I can compete in the following tournaments to complete the 2026 season," she added.
Rybakina turns attention to Wuhan as Sabalenka applies pressure
Rybakina's next scheduled tournament is Wuhan, where she has reached the quarterfinals in both of her previous appearances. She will now have an extra week to recover before beginning the next part of her Asian swing.
Her early Beijing exit also opens the door for Sabalenka to reduce the gap in the battle for the No. 1 ranking. Rybakina only moved to the top after winning the US Open, replacing the Belarusian after the pair had spent much of the season competing for the position.
With no further opportunity to earn points in Beijing, Rybakina will have to wait until Wuhan to begin rebuilding her lead. Sabalenka, meanwhile, can gain ground with a strong run in the Chinese capital, keeping the ranking battle open with the season entering its final weeks.
Read also
Rybakina is scheduled to play Wuhan, Ningbo and Tokyo before the WTA Finals, leaving her with a demanding schedule if she wants to finish the year at the top. For now, though, the priority is recovery.
Her first match as world No. 1 ended with a result few expected. Rybakina's own explanation afterwards pointed to a lack of sleep and recovery, as well as discomfort in her foot, before what could be a decisive stretch of the season.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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