For the second time this year, Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from a Masters 1000 level event due to an illness and done so as a defending champion! There’s only been four on the women’s side and Rybakina’s withdrawn from half: Indian Wells and now the Rome Masters which she won last year.

This is the second time, Rybakina withdrew from an event as the defending champion. In March, she pulled out of the Indian Wells, also citing a gastrointestinal illness. (ANI)