Retirement for Rybakina at Cincinnati Open, Paolini moves into Quarter-Finals as shoulder injury likely cause

Elena Rybakina reached the semi-finals of the Canadian Open in Montreal last week albeit with seemingly having a shoulder injury and also battling the late nights and scheduling woes.

It took an effort to get to Cincinnati Open itself with many expecting the World Number Four to withdraw and get herself ready for the US Open.

Likely with it being a WTA 1000, Rybakina decided to play and won through her opening round against Jelena Ostapenko. But the Last 16 was a step too far.

Jasmine Paolini was the beneficiary with the Italian winning through 4-6, 5-2 retirement against the Kazakh. There was no word as to why she retired but some on social media said that she clutched her shoulder and decided to retire as a result with that being the likely reason.

Especially with the US Open now on the horizon, the effects of Montreal likely mean that it will be a race against time to be ready. But one that she has time on her side with as there are no main warm-ups next week before Flushing Meadows.