Amid ongoing injury concerns for Elena Rybakina, a ray of hope comes through. Just hours before her fourth round against Madison Keys, the Kazakh seems to be up and running. Well, not entirely, but baby steps, right? In her previous round at the Australian Open, Rybakaina was seen calling for a medical time-out, leaving fans and her coach concerned about her continuation in the tournament. However, looks like she’s powering through the motions and is here for the win!

Earlier today, an X user posted videos showcasing Rybakina’s live arrival and pre-match training sessions, writing, “Stretching exercises,” “She is training now,” and “Rybakina arrived.” These glimpses provided optimism to her fans after she faced a back injury during her previous match against Dayana Yastremska, where she expressed the need for some “magic” from her physio to ensure she is fit for the upcoming challenge.

Rybakina battled through a tough third-round match against Yastremska at the Australian Open, securing a 6-3, 6-4 victory despite visibly struggling with a lower back issue. Early in the match, she called for a medical timeout, and her coach, Goran Ivanisevic, appeared concerned about her fitness. Speaking about the injury in her post-match press conference, Rybakina admitted, “I don’t know yet, of course, it’s not so good, since it’s lower back but hopefully we can do everything possible in this one and a half day – but for now it doesn’t seem too good to be honest. I will see my physio and hopefully, he does some magic.”

While fans await confirmation of her recovery, they can find relief to see her back in form and training ahead of her fourth round match. However, given her past experiences with injury-related withdrawals just last year, the anxiety remains.

Rybakina’s battle with injuries through the 2024 season

Elena Rybakina started the 2024 season on a high note, securing two titles in her first four tournaments and reaching the WTA 1000 finals in Doha and Miami. However, a string of physical setbacks quickly overshadowed her promising start. A bout of bronchitis disrupted her post-Wimbledon campaign, leading to withdrawals from both the Olympics and the Toronto tournament. Her struggles continued in Cincinnati, where she lost a heart-wrenching match to Leylah Fernandez after failing to convert two match points in a thrilling three-set battle.

Later at the 2024 US Open, Rybakina withdrew at the last moment from her second-round match against French qualifier Jessika Ponchet due to an ongoing back injury. Expressing her disappointment, she stated, “Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from my match today due to my injuries. I did not want to finish the last Grand Slam of the year this way but I have to listen to my body, and I hope I can close out the remainder of the year strong. Thank you to all the fans who have and continue to support me, and I wish the remaining players good luck.”

The challenges didn’t stop there; the 2022 Wimbledon champion also faced fatigue throughout 2024. Her back injury forced her to withdraw from several tournaments after the US Open, including the China Open and Wuhan Open. Addressing these withdrawals, she said, “Due to an ongoing back injury, I regretfully have to withdraw from the upcoming Asian tournaments. While I’ve been working hard on my recovery, my medical team and I have decided it’s best to prioritize my health at this time.”

Despite these hurdles, Rybakina has displayed remarkable resilience by advancing to the fourth round of the Australian Open 2025 without dropping a set. The last time she was a finalist on this grand stage was in 2023. Can she reach that pinnacle again two years later? Share your thoughts in the comments below!