Rybakina pulls out of Wuhan Open after China Open shock loss
Synopsis
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina has pulled out of the Wuhan Open just 24 hours after a shock three-set loss to World No. 118 Alina Charaeva at the China Open — her persistent lower-leg injury forcing another withdrawal. With Anisimova, Keys, Navarro and Pliskova also gone, the season's last WTA 1000 event is losing its marquee appeal fast.
Key Takeaways
Elena Rybakina , World No.
1 , has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open due to a lower-leg and foot injury.
She was beaten by World No.
118 Alina Charaeva in three sets in the China Open second round in Beijing on 3 October .
Rybakina is the 2025 US Open champion and holds her third Grand Slam title ; she is also the first player to qualify for the WTA Finals this season.
She will next compete at the Ningbo 500 , where she is the defending champion.
Other withdrawals from Wuhan include Amanda Anisimova , Madison Keys , Emma Navarro , and Karolina Pliskova .
The Wuhan Open runs from 12 to 18 October and is the last WTA 1000 -level event of the season.
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open due to injury, tournament organisers confirmed on 4 October, just a day after the Kazakh star was stunned by World No. 118 Alina Charaeva in the second round of the China Open in Beijing. The withdrawal adds another high-profile absentee to an already-depleted Wuhan draw.
What Happened in Beijing
Rybakina suffered a second-round defeat to Charaeva in three sets — one of the biggest upsets of the Asian swing — and had been scheduled to continue her campaign at the Wuhan Open, where she reached the quarterfinals last year. Instead, she will now skip the event entirely and target the Ningbo 500, where she is the defending champion.
The Injury Picture
The 2025 US Open champion has been managing a persistent lower-leg and foot injury for several months. The problem forced her to retire during her Cincinnati quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek. She recovered in time to compete at the US Open in New York, where she claimed her third Grand Slam title, simultaneously rising to World No. 1 and becoming the first singles player to qualify for the WTA Finals in Indian Wells this season.
Rybakina's Message to Fans
Rybakina addressed supporters directly via an Instagram story, expressing regret over her absence. 'I'm very sorry to the fans who were looking forward to seeing me play. I'll take some time to rest and recover. Thank you for your understanding and continued support. See you next year,' she said.
Growing Absentee List at Wuhan
Rybakina's withdrawal compounds what has become a significant depletion of the Wuhan field. Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, and Karolina Pliskova have all pulled out ahead of the tournament. The Wuhan Open runs from 12 to 18 October and serves as the final WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz 1000 event of the season — making the star-power losses particularly notable at this stage of the calendar.
What's Next for Rybakina
With the Ningbo 500 now her next scheduled appearance, Rybakina will be looking to manage her fitness carefully as the season enters its closing stretch. Retaining her World No. 1 ranking and preparing for the WTA Finals will be the twin priorities as she works through her recovery.
Point of View
Yet the structure of the Asian swing offered her little room to rest. The Wuhan field, now stripped of Rybakina, Anisimova, Keys, Navarro and Pliskova, raises genuine questions about player welfare versus commercial imperatives at season's end. For Rybakina, the calculus is clear: protecting fitness for the WTA Finals matters more than a Wuhan quarterfinal run.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Elena Rybakina withdraw from the Wuhan Open?
Rybakina pulled out of the Wuhan Open due to a lingering lower-leg and foot injury that she has been managing for several months. The issue previously forced her to retire from her Cincinnati quarterfinal and continues to affect her fitness on the Asian swing.
Who beat Rybakina at the China Open?
World No. 118 Alina Charaeva defeated Rybakina in three sets in the second round of the China Open in Beijing on 3 October — one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
When and where is the Wuhan Open 2025 being held?
The Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open runs from 12 to 18 October in Wuhan, China. It is the final WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz 1000 event of the season.
What is Rybakina's next tournament after withdrawing from Wuhan?
Rybakina is expected to return to action at the Ningbo 500, where she is the defending champion. She aims to rebuild fitness for the closing stretch of the season, including the WTA Finals in Indian Wells.
Which other players have withdrawn from the Wuhan Open?
Alongside Rybakina, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, and Karolina Pliskova have all withdrawn from the Wuhan Open ahead of the tournament.
