“I have to withdraw due to discomfort in my right hip": Rybakina withdraws from Bad Homburg ahead of Wimbledon
WTA
Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the Bad Homburg Open, removing her final scheduled competitive appearance before Wimbledon. The decision was confirmed on Friday by tournament organisers after the world No. 2 reported discomfort in her right hip. The withdrawal comes less than two weeks before the start of the Grand Slam at the All England Club.
The Kazakh player had entered the WTA 500 event as part of a late adjustment to her grass-court schedule. The intention was to gain additional match rhythm after a mixed start to the surface swing. Instead, the tournament now becomes a missed opportunity to stabilise form ahead of a major title defence.
Her withdrawal follows a surprise round-of-16 defeat to Alexandra Eala at the Berlin Ladies Open earlier in the week. That result extended an inconsistent grass-court run, which has also included a quarter-final loss at the Queen’s Club Championships. The sequence of results has shifted attention towards her physical condition rather than purely sporting form.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, now faces a shortened preparation window. With no further events scheduled before Wimbledon, her immediate focus moves to recovery, medical assessment, and limited practice blocks rather than match play.
Hip issue interrupts Wimbledon build-up
The withdrawal from the Bad Homburg Open effectively ends Rybakina’s competitive grass-court preparation. The WTA 500 tournament in Germany had been positioned as a key warm-up ahead of Wimbledon. Her exit removes one of the final opportunities to adjust to match intensity on grass.
Tournament organisers confirmed the withdrawal after receiving notification from the player. The timing is notable, given that she had only recently competed in Berlin. It also highlights the compressed nature of the grass season, where recovery windows between events are limited and often decisive for player readiness.
Rybakina addressed the situation in a brief written statement shared via tournament channels, citing medical evaluation and ongoing assessment of her condition: “I have to withdraw from Bad Homburg due to some discomfort in my right hip. I need to consult with my medical team and undergo further assessment before making any decisions about the next steps. Thank you for your understanding and support.”
Form dip and physical concerns converge before Wimbledon
Rybakina’s withdrawal does not occur in isolation but within a broader run of uneven results. The world No. 2 has not reached a deep tournament run in recent weeks, with her last semi-final appearance coming at the Stuttgart Open. Since then, she has struggled to build momentum, failing to produce consecutive wins across multiple events.
At the French Open, she exited in the second round. On grass, results have also failed to stabilise: a quarter-final loss at Queen’s Club and a first-round defeat in Berlin underline the inconsistency of her current swing.
Across the grass season so far, she has recorded just one win against two defeats heading into Wimbledon, the tournament she won in 2022. Despite this short-term dip, her overall 2026 season record remains strong on paper, with 32 wins and 10 losses, including titles in Australia and Stuttgart.
The combination of results and physical uncertainty now shifts the emphasis firmly towards recovery rather than competitive refinement. With no additional tournaments scheduled before Wimbledon, her preparation will be limited to controlled training environments and medical management of the hip issue.
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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