Elena Rybakina withdraws from quarter-final clash with Victoria Azarenka at German Open due to illness – Eurosport

Elena Rybakina was forced to withdraw from her quarter-final clash with former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka at the German Open due to illness.

The 25-year-old defeated Zeynep Sonmez 6-3 6-3 in her Round of 16 match on Wednesday, but she was visibly unwell during a distressing start to the first set.

The No. 3 seed went 3-1 down in the first set and looked well off the pace before the physio was called onto the court.

Rybakina sprinted off the court and eventually withdrew, sending Azarenka through to the semi-finals.

Rybakina admitted that she has been feeling unwell during matches following her defeat to Jasmine Paolini at the French Open.

“I think in the end my legs were not there,” she said.

“No matter which conditions, if it’s slow or fast, I should have been moving better.

“So I’m not really happy with the performance, but it is what it is. It’s tennis. Not every day you can play good.

“As I was saying, I was struggling a little bit with the health issues in the past few weeks.

“I think it’s just all together.

“But in the end no matter all these things, which were maybe happening outside of the court, I managed to get to the quarters. I think it’s a pretty good result.”