Reigning Wimbledon champion drops out of third-round French Open match citing sickness

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Elena Rybakina, the No. 4 women's player in the world, withdrew from the French Open Saturday due to what was described as an upper respiratory illness. 

She was scheduled to face Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo in the third round. 

"I just wanted to give 100%, and obviously I’m far from being 100%," Rybakina said. "If I cannot breathe, there is no chance I can even run and try to compete."

Rybakina is also the reigning Wimbledon champion after defeating Ons Jabeur in three sets in July to win the first Grand Slam of her career.

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Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan talks to the media after her injury withdrawal ahead of the third round at Roland Garros June 3, 2023, in Paris  (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

The match between Rybakina and Sorribes Tormo in Paris was scheduled to start shortly before noon local time.

Instead, Rybakina was sitting in front of a microphone around the time the match was supposed to begin to explain to reporters why she was dropping out.

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Rybakina did sound noticeably congested as she revealed she had difficulty sleeping over the previous two days partially due to a fever.

She also said she experienced issues with her breathing while she was warming up Saturday ahead of a match. She said a doctor told her there is a virus going around "here in Paris."

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic in the second round at Roland Garros June 1, 2023, in Paris  (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Rybakina, who won each of her first