Wimbledon champ Rybakina withdraws from Eastbourne citing viral illness

Associated Press
Monday, June 26, 2023 2:03 p.m. | Monday, June 26, 2023 2:03 p.m.

Go Ad-Free Today!

PA via AP

Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova returns a shot to Belgian’s Elise Merten, during a women’s singles match, on day three of the Rothesay International Eastbourne tennis tournament, at Devonshire Park, in Eastbourne, England, Monday, June 26.

PA via AP

J.J. Wolf of the US returns the ball to Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry during the men’s singles match on day three of the Eastbourne International, Eastbourne, England, Monday, June 26.

PA via AP

Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry returns the ball to J.J. Wolf of the US during their men’s singles match on day three of the Eastbourne International, in Eastbourne, England, Monday, June 26.

EASTBOURNE, England — Elena Rybakina withdrew from the Eastbourne International citing a virus illness on Monday, a week before she’s due to defend her Wimbledon title.

Eastbourne, where Rybakina was seeded No. 1, made the announcement before her scheduled first-round match.

Rybakina withdrew last month from the French Open, also citing a vial illness, before her third-round match. Since then, the Kazakh appeared at the Berlin Open last week and lost in the second round.

Former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, a two-time Eastbourne champion, moved past Elise Mertens when the Belgian retired with a left hip injury while trailing 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-0.

Pliskova, the Eastbourne winner in 2017 and 2019, will play Daria Kasatkina next.

On the men’s side, sixth-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina lost his opener to J.J. Wolf of the United States 6-2, 6-4. Wolf earned his first tour win on grass.