Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and 2023 Australian Open finalist, is facing a significant challenge at the 2025 Australian Open due to a recurring lower back injury. During her third-round match against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, Rybakina required a medical timeout after just three games to address discomfort in her lower back. Despite this setback, she secured a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
In her post-match interview, Rybakina candidly discussed her condition, stating, “I don’t know yet, of course, it’s not so good, since it’s lower back but hopefully we can do everything possible in this one and a half day – but for now it doesn’t seem too good to be honest.” She added, “I will see my physio and hopefully he does some magic.”
This isn’t the first time Rybakina has grappled with back issues. In 2024, she withdrew from the Asian swing due to similar concerns but made a return for the season-ending WTA Tour Finals.
Additionally, she faced challenges with her immune system, leading to fatigue and illness throughout the previous year. Reflecting on that period, Rybakina shared, “For me, the whole year was pretty difficult… when my insomnia started, the whole immune system went down. I kept on pushing.”
Looking ahead, Rybakina is set to face American Madison Keys in the fourth round. Keys, currently on a nine-match winning streak in 2025, secured her spot by defeating Rybakina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in their recent encounter. Rybakina’s ability to compete at her highest level will heavily depend on her recovery over the next 48 hours. She emphasized the importance of rest and treatment, noting, “The task for me now is to restore my back and work on the serve.”
Fans and analysts alike are hopeful that Rybakina’s resilience and the expertise of her medical team will enable her to overcome this hurdle and continue her pursuit of a second Grand Slam title.
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