MELBOURNE, Jan 18 — Former Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina said she will need some magic from her physio if she is to recover from a back spasm that threatened her Australian Open hopes.
Rybakina, who was the runner-up at the Melbourne Park major in 2022, complained of discomfort in her lower back during a practice session and was forced to cut short her training.
The Kazakhstani tennis star, who has been touted as one of the dark horses to win the title this year, was in visible pain as she clutched at her back and struggled to move around the court.
Im really worried about my condition, Rybakina said in a post-practice interview. I felt a sharp pain in my back and I couldnt continue with my training.
Rybakina, who has a history of back problems, said she would undergo treatment and assessments to determine the extent of the injury. The 23-year-old said she was keeping her fingers crossed that it was just a minor setback.
Ive been working so hard to get to this point, and to have something like this happen is really frustrating, Rybakina said. But Ive got a great team behind me, and Im hoping that with some rest and treatment, I can get back on the court soon.
Rybakinas physiotherapist said the player had suffered a minor back spasm, but it was too early to determine the full extent of the injury. We are doing everything we can to get Elena back on the court as soon as possible, the physio said.
Rybakinas Australian Open campaign is scheduled to begin on Monday, and the former finalist is desperate to get back to full fitness in time. She is set to face a tough opponent in the first round and knows that she needs to be at the top of her game if she is to progress.
The Australian Open, which is the first Grand Slam of the year, has been marred by injuries to several top players in the past. Rybakina will be hoping to avoid becoming the latest casualty and will be relying on her physio to work some magic to get her back on the court.