Elena Rybakina to Withdraw from US Open 2026? Left Heel Tendon Injury and the World No.1 Equation

Cincinnati, an early August evening — Elena Rybakina steps onto the court against Iga Swiatek, but after just a few games, she stops. The score is 1-4 in the first set when she leaves, leaving behind a void far larger than a single loss. This is not the first time she has had to retire mid-match, but this time, the question does not stop at Cincinnati. It points directly to Flushing Meadows, where she stands before the first opportunity of her career to rise to World No. 1. The truth is, information about Rybakina withdrawing from the singles draw at US Open 2026 has not yet been confirmed. What we know for certain: she has withdrawn from the mixed doubles event. Everything else remains a series of large question marks about her condition and immediate future. The story begins with an ankle injury. According to ESPN sources, the issue lies in the left heel tendon. That is a crucial detail, because for a player whose aggressive game relies on explosive movement like Rybakina, an injury in this area is not just pain — it is the erosion of her game's foundation. I have followed Rybakina since her ITF days. What impressed me most was not her powerful serve, but the way she moved — wide, decisive steps, always ready to explode. Her forehand is a weapon, but it only works when her legs carry her to the right position. A player who cannot move well becomes an easy target for any opponent, especially on hard courts. Cincinnati is where everything began to unravel. Rybakina tried to continue after feeling pain, but she soon realized she could not move her leg. That is a frightening moment — not because she lost, but because she could not fight the way she wanted. She left the court at 1-4, and to me, that was the right decision. No title is worth more than an athlete's health. But the story does not end there. US Open 2026 is approaching, and for Rybakina, this tournament carries special significance. She stands before the opportunity to reach World No. 1 for the first time — but the condition is reaching the semi-finals. That is a difficult equation, because a Grand Slam run requires seven consecutive matches, each lasting hours. With a heel tendon injury, that is nearly an impossible challenge. There is a detail that makes me think. According to some sources, her Achilles issue is only speculation — but the fact that she had strapping in that area before suggests the problem may have existed earlier. This is a worrying signal. In elite sports, chronic injuries are often more dangerous than acute ones, because they do not give you time to fully recover. I recall a conversation with a fitness coach who worked with top-10 players. He told me: "There is data that does not need to be loud, it just needs someone patient enough to read it." For Rybakina, the data is speaking clearly — her body is sending warning signals, and whether she listens will determine her career's future. If Rybakina still plays at the US Open, I believe her team will have to change tactics. Instead of extending rallies, she will need to shorten points with direct serve winners or immediate follow-up shots. This means accepting higher risk, and if the heel tendon does not allow flexible movement, her shots will become more predictable. There is another perspective I want to offer. In football, we often talk about how inverted wingers are homogenizing the game. In tennis, something similar is happening — players increasingly rely on power and speed, and when one of those factors declines, they become more fragile than ever. Rybakina is a prime example. She is not a player who can win through clever tactics — she wins through power and dominance. When that power fades, she risks becoming an ordinary player. But I do not think that is the worst part. The worst part is the psychological pressure she faces. She stands before the biggest opportunity of her career — World No. 1 — and her body is betraying her. That is a difficult situation any athlete must face at least once. The question is: how will she handle it? I have witnessed many athletes face similar situations. Some choose to withdraw to preserve their health, others choose to fight to the end. Neither choice is right or wrong — only different consequences. For Rybakina, withdrawing from the US Open could be a wise decision, but it could also be a missed opportunity. There is a story I often tell young people when they ask me about athletic careers. It is about a long-distance runner who had to quit mid-race due to injury. He told me: "The empty track is where I hear my own footsteps most clearly." For Rybakina, this period may be the time she listens to her body most clearly. In terms of data, we do not have much to analyze. There are no statistics on her serve percentage, winners, or unforced errors in the match against Swiatek. But there is one number we cannot ignore: 1-4. That was the score when she left, and it shows she could not perform at her best from the start. This further reinforces concerns that the injury affected her before the match even began. I also want to mention another aspect — the business side of tennis. The US Open is one of the world's biggest tournaments, and a top player withdrawing affects revenue from broadcast rights, tickets, and sponsorship deals. But that is not the most important thing. The most important thing is the athlete's health, and I believe the organizers understand that too. There is a question I want to raise at the end of this article: Are we placing too much importance on athletes competing at all costs? In a world where tournaments are constantly held and sponsorship deals grow larger, we tend to forget that athletes are also human — they have limits, and they have the right to protect their health. Rybakina stands before a difficult decision. She can choose to play and accept the risk, or she can choose to withdraw and preserve her health. Whatever she chooses, I believe it will be the right decision — because only she understands her body best. And as I often tell young colleagues: "People look at the rankings, I look at what the rankings hide."