The National Bank Open in Toronto has received some unfortunate news as Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Barbora Krejcikova will not be participating in this year’s tournament.
Swiatek, who holds the top spot in the world rankings, recently concluded her run at the Paris Olympics with a dominant victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the bronze medal match. However, following her Olympic success, the 23-year-old Polish player has chosen to withdraw from the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto due to fatigue. Swiatek expressed her regret in a statement, citing the demanding tennis schedule this year and the need for rest and recovery in order to perform at her best during the upcoming US swing.
Although Swiatek has previously competed in the National Bank Open, her performances in Toronto have not been particularly successful, with early exits in 2019 and 2022. However, she did reach the semifinals when the tournament was held in Montreal last year.
Rybakina, who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, was set to represent Kazakhstan at the Paris Olympics. However, her absence from the Games raised concerns about her well-being. It was later revealed that Rybakina had withdrawn from the Olympics due to acute bronchitis, and she has not yet fully recovered, leading to her decision to skip the Toronto tournament. Rybakina expressed her disappointment but looked forward to returning to Canada next year.
In a statement, Rybakina shared that she had wanted to push herself and participate in Paris, but her doctors advised against it due to her health condition. She expressed her regret at not being able to compete for her country and wished her fellow Kazakhstani athletes success at the Olympics.
Like Swiatek, Rybakina has previously participated in the National Bank Open. However, she played in Montreal twice and Toronto once. In her lone appearance in Toronto in 2022, she was eliminated in the second round by Coco Gauff.
Krejcikova, who recently claimed her second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, faced a tight schedule at the Paris Olympics, competing in all three events: singles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. With the quick transition from grass to clay and the demanding nature of the past few weeks, Krejcikova has decided to prioritize her health and skip the Toronto tournament. She expressed her gratitude for the support and understanding and looked forward to returning to the court soon.
Prior to Swiatek, Rybakina, and Krejcikova, Jasmine Paolini, Maria Sakkari, and Danielle Collins also announced their withdrawals from the Toronto tournament. Tournament director Karl Hale acknowledged the players’ decisions, emphasizing the importance of their well-being and understanding their need to prioritize their bodies and health.
Photo by Elena Rybakina Instagram