Rybakina US Open Status Still Unclear

Elena Rybakina still will not fully clear herself for the US Open, leaving the world No. 2's status open three days before the main draw. Tennis Up To Date reported Friday that she is recovering from the left-leg injury that forced her to retire against Iga Swiatek in the Cincinnati quarterfinals. She has not played since. She has not rushed back just because a Slam and the No. 1 ranking are on the table.

In comments to The Mirror UK Sports, carried by Tennis Up To Date, Rybakina said: "I'm doing everything possible to recover and, so far, everything is going well. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to play yet. We'll try in the next few days, but everything seems to be fine, so I hope to be ready for the first match." She added they do not want to rush anything and want to be "completely sure that everything is okay."

Will Elena Rybakina play the US Open?

Not confirmed. Main draw starts Sunday, August 30. She is the No. 2 seed in the women's draw released Thursday, with Aryna Sabalenka No. 1. That seeding assumes she shows. A late withdrawal would reshuffle the bracket. Fans searching Rybakina US Open or Rybakina injury want a yes or no. Friday's answer is still "hope so, not rushing."

She closed the gap on Sabalenka all year. Cincinnati was supposed to be the leap. The left leg ended that night against Swiatek. Ten days of recovery later, she still had not returned to the court when she spoke to The Mirror.

Can Rybakina become No. 1 without playing?

Yes, Tennis Up To Date noted. If Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff all fail to win the title, Rybakina can move to No. 1 even without a match in New York. That is the weird parallel track: title contender if healthy, ranking climber if she sits. The draw already stacks stars, including the men's half covered in the Alcaraz-Djokovic path and Dimitrov's qualifying ticket.

Priority is the leg. Ranking is secondary. Watch practice reports over the next few days. Until she hits balls in public, treat her first-round slot as provisional.

Rybakina US Open FAQ

Is Elena Rybakina playing the US Open? Not fully confirmed. She hopes to be ready but will not rush the left-leg recovery.

What is Rybakina's injury? A left-leg problem that forced her retirement vs. Iga Swiatek in the Cincinnati quarterfinals.

What seed is Rybakina? No. 2 in the women's singles draw released Thursday, behind Aryna Sabalenka.