World No. 2 Rybakina retires while trailing 4-1 as Swiatek advances to last four.
Image: Yahoo Sports
Iga Swiatek booked her place in the Cincinnati Open semi-finals after Elena Rybakina was forced to retire from their quarter-final with a heel injury.
Swiatek was leading 4-1 in the opening set when Rybakina suddenly pulled up and struggled to put weight on her left heel. After consulting the trainer and briefly returning to the court, the Kazakh player retired after just one more point.
The result sends Swiatek into the last four, where she will face Jessica Pegula. Rybakina’s injury has also raised concerns about her fitness with the US Open beginning on August 30.
