The reigning Wimbledon champion and 2023 Australian Open finalist, Elena Rybakina, has withdrawn from the 2023 Qatar Open in Doha.
Rybakina has been one of the top players in women's tennis in recent years, and her absence from the Doha tournament is sure to be felt, especially after the withdrawal of other players such as Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka, Bianca Andreescu, and Garbine Muguruza. In a statement, Rybakina said:
"Unfortunately I’m not gonna go to Doha. I'm really looking forward to come back next year but this time I'm not going. Schedule-wise it's not easy to travel so much. I played really well in Melbourne so it's really better for me just to rest & prepare the next week."
It's not uncommon for top players to withdraw from tournaments due to scheduling conflicts or injuries, but Rybakina's absence from the Qatar Open is notable given her recent success. She reached the final of the 2023 Australian Open and was a strong contender to win the tournament, but ultimately fell to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets.
Despite the disappointment of not playing in Doha, Rybakina is looking ahead to her next tournament. The Kazakh is signed up for the WTA 1000 event in Dubai, where she should appear after her withdrawal from Doha.
With Rybakina out of the Qatar Open, the field is now wide open for other players to step up and compete for the title. It will be interesting to see who will take advantage of this opportunity and claim the victory in Doha.
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