Elena Rybakina shared that insomnia points ravaged her immune system and she or he completely wanted a break that she took in late 2024.
After abruptly withdrawing from her US Open second-round match, the Kazakh tennis star returned house and she or he did not play once more till the WTA Finals.
Earlier than the two-month pause, the 2022 Wimbledon champion battled accidents, diseases and allergy symptoms all through the complete 12 months.
Now, in her pre-tournament press convention on the Australian Open, Rybakina revealed that it began after she concluded her run at Melbourne Park 12 months in the past.
“For me the whole year was pretty difficult. Coming back from Melbourne, like the issues with sleep started. It’s been going on for a long time. So of course it was not easy,” the 25-year-old stated.
Elena Rybakina© Australian Open/YouTube
Rybakina: When my insomnia began, the entire immune system went down
To start with, the previous world No. 6 was solely experiencing sleep points. However quickly, the shortage of sleep negatively impacted her well being.
Reflecting on it now, the Kazakh thinks she ought to have taken a break sooner than September.
“Well, as I said, when my insomnia started, the whole immune system went down. I kept on pushing. Maybe I should have take the rest a little bit earlier,” Rybakina defined.
“For five or six years I’m on tour, I’m playing non-stop. Even in offseason we have maybe one or two weeks. I was struggling during Wimbledon. After that I had only four days and I got sick again.”
At first of 2025, the previous world No. 6 led Kazakhstan to the United Cup semifinal, the place she went 3-1 in singles.
However most significantly, she did not expertise any accidents or well being setbacks.
Now, Rybakina is about for the Australian Open, the place she meets 16-year-old Australian wildcard Emerson Jones within the first spherical.