Swiatek reaches Cincinnati semifinals after Rybakina withdraws

World number two Elena Rybakina pulled out of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Thursday, citing a lingering shoulder injury that forced her to forfeit her opening‑round match. The withdrawal was confirmed by tournament officials and the WTA, and it marks the first time the Kazakhstani player has missed a WTA 1000 event since her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2022.

Rybakina, who entered Cincinnati as the top seed, had been using the hard‑court swing as preparation for the US Open, where she is slated to be the second‑seeded contender. Her recent schedule has included a title run in Doha and a semifinal appearance in Rome, but the shoulder issue has limited her practice sessions over the past two weeks. The WTA medical team cleared her to compete earlier this month, yet the decision to withdraw was made after a routine assessment indicated that continued play could exacerbate the condition. Tournament director Gary Stalder noted that the draw will be reshuffled, and the WTA will monitor her health closely ahead of the season‑ending Grand Slam.

The withdrawal has intensified scrutiny of Rybakina’s fitness heading into New York, where she is expected to face a deep field that includes defending champion Iga Świątek and rising American talent. While no definitive timeline for her return has been announced, Rybakina’s camp has indicated that a final medical evaluation will be conducted before the US Open start date. The upcoming weeks will determine whether the world number two can compete at full strength in the sport’s final major of the year.