Defending champion Elena Rybakina withdraws from Indian Wells due to illnessThere will be no back-to-back women’s champion at the BNP Paribas Open: 2023 champion Elena Rybakina, the No. 4 seed, withdrew from the tournament Friday hours ahead of the first match of her title defense due to illness.
World No.4 Rybakina entered the tournament as the tour’s leader in wins this year with 17, with tournament victories in Adelaide and Abu Dhabi as well as a runner-up finish in Doha to Iga Swiatek. Rybakina was previously slated to play the Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles exhibition on the eve of the tournament Tuesday, but withdrew from that too and was replaced by Maria Sakkari.
As the No. 10 seed 12 months ago, Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final 7-6(11), 6-4 to win a WTA 1000 event for the first time. In the semifinals, she toppled world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, 6-2, 6-2.
Rybakina said her withdrawal came with “great sadness,” as “those close to me know how much this tournament means to me and how much I wanted to come back and defend my title.”
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