Elena Rybakina's Health Issues: COVID-19 Attacks, Severe Allergies & Back Injury

Elena Rybakina and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will clash today in the Round of 16 at the 2026 US Open. As the tournament's No. 2 seed, Rybakina has reached the fourth round without dropping a set. She opened her campaign with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Thea Frodin before defeating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4. She then beat Yuliia Starodubtseva 7-6(6), 6-3 to book her place in the second week. A win today would send Rybakina into the quarterfinals and move her closer to the world No. 1 ranking. She is mathematically guaranteed to replace Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings if she wins two more matches and reaches the semifinals. Elena Rybakina's Injuries and Health Concerns Rybakina has dealt with several physical challenges throughout her career, including a recent ankle injury at the Cincinnati Open in August 2026, as well as severe allergies, insomnia, and fatigue. Her most recent setback came during her quarterfinal match against Iga Świątek at the Cincinnati Open, when she was forced to retire because of a left ankle injury. It was later reported to be a painful tendon issue in her left heel that affected her ability to serve. There were initially concerns that Rybakina could have suffered a serious Achilles injury, but she recovered in time to compete at the 2026 US Open and has made it through the first three rounds without dropping a set. Along with injuries such as lower back and shoulder problems, Rybakina has also dealt with other health issues during her career. The 27-year-old has openly discussed suffering from severe insomnia, which can leave her physically exhausted and affect her ability to recover between matches. The lack of proper rest has also made her more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses. She has dealt with multiple bouts of COVID-19 during her career, including episodes that led to mid-tournament withdrawals. Rybakina has also experienced severe seasonal allergies, particularly around the French Open and Italian Open. The allergies have affected her breathing and made it harder to maintain her usual training and match routine. During her opening win at the 2026 US Open, Rybakina said she was taking things one match at a time while making recovery a priority. 'For me now a step at a time. The most important thing is to recover and listen to the body. For now it's been okay,' she said. Copyright 2026 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved. This story was originally published September 7, 2026 at 2:30 PM.