Washington D.C. — Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina have retired from their doubles semifinal match at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, raising concerns about player well-being amidst grueling heat conditions in the U.S. capital. The duo, affectionately dubbed “Rybakina” or “ER Squared” by fans, withdrew while trailing Taylor Townsend and Shuai Zhang 4-1 in the first set on Friday.
Their retirement comes after a challenging day for both players, who had each competed in demanding singles quarterfinal matches earlier in the day. Raducanu, in particular, had a lengthy two-hour and ten-minute battle against Maria Sakkari, winning in straight sets despite the oppressive Washington heat, which soared to over 104°F (40°C).
Extreme Conditions Take Their Toll
The sweltering conditions in Washington D.C. have been a significant factor throughout the tournament. Raducanu herself described her singles quarterfinal against Sakkari as “one of the toughest matches conditions-wise I’ve ever played in,” noting that she “wasn’t feeling too good in the second set” and had to call a doctor on court. During that match, she even had her blood pressure checked due to the extreme heat.
The decision to retire from the doubles semifinal appears to be a strategic one, aimed at preserving energy for their respective singles semifinal encounters scheduled for Saturday. Rybakina is set to face Leylah Fernandez, while Raducanu will take on Anna Kalinskaya.
Raducanu’s History with Retirements and Injuries
This retirement adds to a history of withdrawals and injuries for the 2021 US Open champion, Emma Raducanu. Since her WTA debut in June 2021, she has faced multiple mid-match retirements and tournament withdrawals.
Notable Retirements in Raducanu’s Career:
- 2021 Wimbledon: Raducanu retired from her fourth-round match against Ajla Tomljanovic due to difficulty breathing.
- 2022 Abierto Zapopan: She retired in the deciding set against Daria Saville due to severe leg cramps.
- 2022 Italian Open: A back problem led to her mid-match retirement against Bianca Andreescu.
- 2022 Nottingham Open: Raducanu withdrew after just seven games in her opening set due to a left rib injury.
- 2022 Korea Open: A glute injury forced her to stop in the third set of her semifinal match against Jelena Ostapenko.
- Late 2022: Raducanu ended her 2022 season prematurely due to a wrist injury.
- 2023 ASB Classic: She retired in the second round due to a left ankle injury after winning the first set 6-0.
Despite these setbacks, Raducanu has shown resilience, particularly in her run at the Citi DC Open, where she has yet to drop a set in her singles matches, defeating top players like Naomi Osaka and Maria Sakkari. Her deep run to the semifinals marks a significant milestone after battling injuries for much of the past two years.
Implications for Upcoming Matches
The retirement from doubles, while disappointing for fans who enjoyed the “Rybakina” partnership, is a pragmatic decision given the demanding schedule and extreme weather. It underscores the physical toll tennis takes on players, especially during hardcourt swings and in high temperatures. Both Raducanu and Rybakina will now focus solely on their singles campaigns, hoping that conserving energy in doubles will pay dividends in their pursuit of the Citi DC Open title and as preparation for the upcoming US Open Series events, including the Canadian Open and Cincinnati.
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