Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has openly acknowledged her ongoing battle with constant injury issues as she competes at the Washington Open, referred to here as the “Washington Olen” (likely a typo for Open). The 26-year-old Kazakh, currently ranked No. 4, has faced a series of physical setbacks that have tested her resilience throughout 2025. After a third-round exit at Wimbledon earlier this month, Rybakina arrived in Washington with high hopes, leveraging the new hard-court surface for a fresh start. Despite these challenges, she has shown determination, advancing to the quarter-finals with a solid 6-3, 7-5 victory over Canada’s Victoria Mboko on Thursday night under the lights.
Rybakina has been candid about the toll of her injuries, which include a painful foot issue that has lingered, casting a shadow over her performances. This follows a pattern of setbacks, such as a back injury that forced her withdrawal from the 2024 US Open and disrupted her Asian swing, as well as physical struggles at the 2025 Australian Open. Her recent comments reflect a fighter’s spirit, noting, “It feels good to play on hard courts. Today’s game was very difficult… I haven’t even practiced at night. So I’m very happy to win and look forward to the next one.” This resilience shines through despite the pressure to secure another Grand Slam title, a goal complicated by her injury history.
Her coaching changes this year—parting with Stefano Vukov, briefly working with Goran Ivanisevic, and reuniting with Vukov before splitting again—highlight her efforts to find stability amid these physical challenges. Currently, she relies on Davide Sanguinetti for coaching, with Aldo Chiari handling fitness and Stefan Duell focusing on recovery and physiotherapy, a support system she credits for helping her manage her condition. Rybakina’s next challenge is a quarter-final match, potentially against Venus Williams or Magdalena Fręch, depending on their upcoming result. Her ability to overcome these injury demons will be key as she aims to add to her Grand Slam legacy, though the constant physical strain remains a significant hurdle at 11:22 AM WAT on July 25, 2025.
