Elena Rybakina to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Rybakina fans. Speculation had been rife that Wimbledon champion of 2022 is about to announce her retirement from sports, at age 26, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a tennis player isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a tennis player just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouElena

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouElena was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“Elena Rybakina was unlike any other tennis player we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouElena”
— @universalObserver, 20 Mar 2026

“Rybakina wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 20 Mar 2026

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