Fourth seed Elena Rybakina retired from the French Open on Saturday moments before the start of her third round match due to a virus which has troubled her for the last 48 hours.
The Kazakh who holds the Wimbledon title was to have faced Sara Sorribes Tormo for a place in the fourth round at Roland Garros; the 132nd-ranked Spaniard now moves through on a walkover.
Rybakina, who claimed the Rome title last month, was on an eight-match win streak and finding her form on clay.
“The doctor told me I have a virus, I’ve not slept for two nights andI had a fever,” she said.
“I tried this morning on the warmup, but it was the right decision to withdraw.
“I’upset I’m not able to play. But I guess that’s life, there are ups and downs.
“I wanted to be 100 percent for the match but I”m far from that. I was positive coming to Paris but you never know how you are going to feel.
“It was unlucky for me.”
Sorribes Tormo made her career claim to fame at the Tokyo Olympics, where she defeated then No. 1 Ash Barty.
