© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
Elena Rybakina withdrew from the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi due to sickness, the tournament announced on Saturday. Rybakina, ranked at No. 4 in the world, competed in the opening two days of the event. When the tournament organizers released Saturday’s order of play, they announced that Rybakina was out of the tournament due to sickness. Also, the tournament organizers named former top-10 player Vera Zvonareva as Rybakina’s replacement.
Unfortunately, Rybakina has battled sickness several times over the course of the year. At the French Open, Rybakina made the third round before pulling out due to a viral illness. During and after the US Open, Rybakina also battled a virus.
Rybakina lost to Aryna Sabalenka on Friday at the World Tennis League
On Friday, Rybakina’s Falcons had a 24-23 lead over Team Kites going into the final Rybakina and Sabalenka match. After Sabalenka won the set with a 7-6 (2) score to equal the tie to 30-30 apiece, a deciding match tie-break was required. In the match tie-break, Sabalenka was also victorious as she won the tie-break with a 10-6 score to complete the Kites’ win over the Falcons.
“We’ve played a lot…
