Rybakina Withdraws From Mixed Doubles: Pegula Steps In With Fritz

Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the US Open mixed doubles due to the left ankle injury sustained in Cincinnati. Stepping in is Jessica Pegula, who with Taylor Fritz forms the No. 2 pair in the main draw, running at Flushing Meadows through August 26.

The ankle locked up on Thursday, August 20, in the quarterfinals against Iga Swiatek. Rybakina stopped play trailing 1-4 in the first set, called for a medical timeout, tried to return to serve for one point, and then retired.

"It hurts to walk, we'll know more tomorrow when I get the MRI"

she said in her press conference.

The results of the scan haven't been made public, and her place in the singles draw, which starts Sunday, August 30, remains in doubt.

That retirement also cost her the No. 1 ranking. Reaching the final in Cincinnati would have made her world No. 1 for the first time in her career, because that same night Aryna Sabalenka had lost to Sara Bejlek. Rybakina remains No. 2.

Pegula, too, had found herself without a partner: Jack Draper, with whom she had played mixed doubles in 2025, pulled out of the entire US Open because of the bone bruise in his left arm that has dogged him for over a year. Two crossed withdrawals brought the two Americans back together, and they now start among the favorites in a tournament designed for singles stars.