Indian Wells 2024: Defending champion Elena Rybakina withdraws, Andy Murray out

The veteran Andy Murray suffered a straight-set loss in opposition to Andrey Rublev within the spherical of 64 on the Indian Wells Open 2024 on Saturday. The British tennis ace continued his inconsistent leads to the 2024 season drawing stress from media and followers over his long-term future within the sport. 

Rublev, the no.5 seed at Indian Wells, wanted to offer his finest to assert the primary set by 7-6. Murray, the three-time Grand Slam winner, was main 5-4 within the first set however missed 4 set factors to lose out. Then the Russian construct up a formidable momentum to complete the match by 7-6, 6-1. 

In the ladies’s singles occasion, the defending champion Elena Rybakina withdrew resulting from sickness forward of her first sport in opposition to Argentine Nadia Podoroska. The Russian-born Kazakhstani star has been in wonderful type with the best 17 wins within the WTA tour this season successful Brisbane International and Abu Dhabi Open. 

“Those close to me know how much this tournament means to me and how much I wanted to come back and defend my title,” Rybakina mentioned. “I would like to thank all the fans who came out here to support me and I am sorry they will not get a chance to see me play this year. Now I will rest and recover so I can come out and play and compete for my fans to the best of my abilities once again.”

The lately topped Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner continued his spectacular run with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win in opposition to Thanasi Kikkinakis within the spherical of 16, stretching his successful streak to 16 matches. The Italian teen stays unbeaten this season with 13 wins and subsequent confronted Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff on the Masters 1000 occasion on Monday.

The world no.1 Iga Swiatek additionally registered a simple 6-3, 6-0 win in opposition to Danielle Collins of the USA to achieve the spherical of 32 on Saturday.