Winning at a Cost
Elena Rybakina delivered one of the most remarkable performances of the 2026 season by capturing the US Open title, but the victory has come with a significant physical toll. The Kazakh star battled an Achilles tendon injury first sustained at the Cincinnati Open in mid-August, and she reportedly needed painkillers simply to walk during the tournament. At one stage, her participation in New York appeared seriously in doubt after she had to retire from her Cincinnati quarter-final against Iga Swiatek, later admitting that even walking was painful. She gutted it out and went all the way, but the body has now demanded its recovery time.
Beyond the title itself, Rybakina accomplished something historic in New York, climbing past Aryna Sabalenka in the world rankings to become the world number one, a first for any player from Kazakhstan. The achievement is remarkable, though the celebration has been cut short by medical reality. Kazakhstan's tennis federation confirmed she needs a minimum of two weeks of treatment and further testing, and she has already withdrawn from the Billie Jean King Cup Finals event in Shenzhen, where Kazakhstan were set to face fourth-seeded Spain.
A Packed Schedule Awaits
If her recovery proceeds smoothly, Rybakina could return in time for the China Open, a prestigious WTA 1000 event beginning on September 28. However, the weeks that follow are brutally compressed. The Wuhan Open starts on October 12, with the Ningbo Open and Pan Pacific Open arriving in quick succession before the WTA Finals close out the season. With 2,410 ranking points to defend over that stretch, skipping tournaments carries real consequences. How much she plays will depend entirely on how that Achilles responds to treatment. TennisDraw users will want to keep a close eye on her draw position before locking in any bracket picks for the China Open.
