What happens in Rome, stays in Rome. At least that is the hope as the tennis world is abuzz with more than the sound of racquets. A mysterious round of sickness has been making headlines recently. And it has affected top players like Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, and Andrey Rublev, all of whom fell sick during the tournament. Andy Roddick brought attention to this matter in his latest episode of “Served” Podcast.

Aryna Sabalenka has recently stormed through the quarterfinals of the Italian Open. And she is soon going to battle against Danielle Collins in the semifinals tomorrow. However, as Andy Roddick mentioned in his podcast, her journey back from the Madrid finals to the Italian Open has not been smooth. “There is some sickness going around. Post Madrid, Sabalenka said she got something there.”  

And indeed so. During her pre-tournament press conference in Rome, Sabalenka’s voice was hoarse and congested as well. She herself admitted after her second-round victory in Rome,  “Honestly, for someone who has been sick for four days and couldn’t get out of bed, I think I played really quite well.”

However, she is not the only one who suffered from an illness in Rome. Andy Roddick further added, “Rublev deserves more credit for his victory because he said, ‘I was basically eating mushy foods because I couldn’t swallow because of tonsils.'” Rublev experienced a bacterial infection in his throat, leading to a tonsil abscess during his stay in Madrid. Due to this, he even stayed in the hospital for two days. But after battling through the extreme pain and swelling, he came back to Rome, only to eventually face a second-round exit.

Last but not least, Andy Roddick also noted Stuttgart Open winner, Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal from the Italian Open. “Rybakina said something and pulled out of Rome,” he further added. “I am disappointed to have to withdraw from Rome this year, but unfortunately I do not feel well enough to compete,” said Rybakina regarding her withdrawal from Rome. 

Although specific details regarding her condition are not revealed, Rybakina was also previously struggling with allergies. Adding to this string of players, there is Novak Djokovic as well. Although his health issue was not due to the weather, it was an accident!

Novak Djokovic’s injury further emphasizes Andy Roddick’s statements of the streak of illness in Rome

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic also faced a mishap during his first-round victory against Corentin Moutet in Rome. This happened when a water bottle from a fan’s bag fell over his head while he was signing autographs for the fans. The 36-year-old player with blood on his head had to exit from the ground only to come back the next day and face a defeat in his second-round match. 

Suffering from dizziness, headaches, and nausea, he decided to take his tests later on. Although the results of the report have shown no anomalies, the whole incident caused a stir in the tennis world. As Andy Roddick pointed out, the air in Rome this year has proved to be unique owing to these widespread health concerns among players. But hopefully, as the tournament continues, the affected players will recover soon!