No lesson learned from Montreal? Rybakina set for unwanted spot again in US Open schedule

Friday, 01 September 2023 at 18:02

Friday at the US Open sees an action-packed schedule. But for one player in particular, it will be an all too familiar feeling of playing late at night. That being Elena Rybakina.

The former Wimbledon champion and current World Number Four will face Sorana Cirstea for a spot in the Last 16. But will play at around 3 a.m. CET on Saturday morning during Friday's night session.

It is a session which on the WTA side features Iga Swiatek - Kaja Juvan, Elise Mertens - Coco Gauff, Karolina Muchova - Taylor Townsend and Caroline Wozniacki - Jennifer Brady.

But despite disparaging comments aimed at the WTA in Montreal about playing late at night and feeling destroyed, her plea at the US Open has not been answered as she will play again last on Grandstand even after Novak Djokovic steps on the court last.

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"I'm not really happy about it, but it is what it is," said Rybakina at the time in Montreal.

"I feel destroyed because of the scheduling and the whole situation.

"Unfortunately, players can't do much in these situations. The decision isn't really ours. The weather wasn't helpful. So I picked up some injuries, but we tried to manage it and see how we'll go from that."

"I think that the most important is the WTA here," she added. "Leadership [is] a little bit weak for now but hopefully something is going to change, because this year it was many situations which I can't really understand.

"I have to see how I feel and evaluate the small injuries which I have now. I have to be smart in making any decision."

A theme of WTA with Swiatek among leading players not wanting late matches

She is one of many WTA stars that have voiced concerns and the dislike of playing in the Night Session. A long theme of Grand Slams in particular at Roland Garros has been players such as Iga Swiatek requesting that they play earlier.

A wish that has often been granted to the World No.1 who has even said she wishes even to play on smaller courts in an attempt not to wreck her sleep schedule. The only solace for Rybakina is that she will not play tomorrow unlike in Montreal, with the other side of the draw in play.

But somewhat ironically after her complaints in Canada albeit potentially unintentional, she has been punished with a late-night slot.

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Fun Friday at the #USOpen 👍 [1] Swiatek vs. Juvan [4] Rybakina vs. [30] Cirstea [32] Mertens vs. [6] Gauff [10] Muchova vs. Townsend Zhu vs. [15] Bencic [20] Ostapenko vs. Pera Wang vs. Schmiedlova Wozniacki vs. Brady

1:00 PM · Sep 1, 2023

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