Elena Rybakina gets toughest path possible as top seed at Abu Dhabi Open as Middle East grind begins
WTATuesday, 06 February 2024 at 08:00
With the Abu Dhabi Open kicking off this week in the United Arab Emirates, top seed Elena Rybakina might have her work cut out for her if she intends on clinching the prestigious title.
The former Wimbledon champion suffered an early exit at the 2024 Australian Open, where she fell to unseeded Russian Anna Blinkova in the second round. The duo made history during that encounter, with Blinkova prevailing in the third set after they battled each other in the longest tiebreak in Australian Open history.
Rybakina could face a Grand Slam champion or runner-up in each round
The World No.5 has a bye in the first round in Abu Dhabi, by virtue of being the top seed. However, her campaign begins in the second round, where she will face the winner between four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and former Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins. Should Rybakina prevail, she could face fifth seed and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinal.
Rybakina is projected to again face another former Grand Slam champion in the semifinals, with 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova waiting in the wings. A date with three-time Grand Slam runner-up Ons Jabeur awaits Rybakina in the final, with the Tunisian star hoping to get revenge after falling to Rybakina in the 2022 Wimbledon final.
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- LOL.MrAndreeva10-05-2024
- My money is simply on fatigue. She's not the compact 'muscle-man'-type like perhaps Sabalenka, Swiatek or Sakkari. She's a player desperately longing for some kind of Djokovic rhythm. She should skip lots to win more majors. And the rumour I thought wasn't it Long Covid?MrAndreeva10-05-2024
- If there is some other reason, like exhaustion or self-preservation by not playing in consecutive tourneys, then simply say so. There's no shame in self preservation. Since the WTA obviously does not seriously consider a player's physical and mental stress as they schedule back-to-back majors, it's okay to adhere to such a healthy agenda and admit it. The illness thing is kind of suspect at this point; if only because of the timing pattern.
mandoist10-05-2024 - So, Elena Rybakina has again withdrawn due to illness (in Rome). Fans are concerned if this is truly a gastrointestinal issue. Why the secrecy? Is it truly an illness causing these withdrawals? It may be helpful -- even encouraging -- for others whom also suffer whatever illness is ongoing here to know what she is dealing with; and how. A form of Colitis? Ulcers? What's up? Timing has been last minute. It's a bummer all around.mandoist10-05-2024
- Tennis is ridiculous to maintain the tradition of silence. If they can play in open courts like Rome with all the noise from each court they surely could survive cheering, etc., during play (i.e., a singles match with only a 2 meter fence between them and a men's doubles -- and very loud noise from each side).mandoist10-05-2024
