- Rybakina still struggling with lingering effects of a virus
- The 24-year-old has played two matches on grass this year
Elena Rybakina faces a race to be sufficiently fit and healthy for her Wimbledon title defence after withdrawing from the Eastbourne International hours before she was due to contest her first-round match.
Since withdrawing from her third-round match at the French Open with a virus this month, Rybakina has been rushing to return to full fitness. The 24-year-old explained in her pre-tournament press conference in Eastbourne on Sunday that her virus had worsened after her withdrawal from Roland Garros and she spent a couple of days in bed before leaving Paris.