Elena Rybakina Stops Mid-Match, Tells Doctor ‘I’m Going to Stop’ — Lucky Loser Who Beat Emma Raducanu Gets a Dubai Lifeline!”

Elena Rybakina’s thrilling 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships campaign came to an unexpected halt on Wednesday, when the world No. 3 retired mid-match and handed a sensational opportunity to lucky loser Antonia Ruzic — the same player who knocked out Emma Raducanu.

In a roller-coaster third-round clash that looked destined to go the distance, Elena Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion and top seed, found herself struggling physically against Croatia’s 23-year-old lucky loser Antonia Ruzic. Ruzic had already stunned the tennis world by eliminating British star Emma Raducanu in the opening round — a result that sent shockwaves through the Dubai draw — and she continued her giant-killing form against the Kazakh.

The high-stakes match was evenly contested early on. Ruzic seized the initiative by breaking Rybakina’s serve and took the second set 6-4 after losing the opener. At the start of the third set, with Ruzic up 1-0, Rybakina requested medical attention, prompting concern among fans and commentators. Shortly after consulting with the tournament physio, the former world No. 1 delivered a stark message: “I’m going to stop.”

According to on-court audio reported by media, Rybakina explained her condition to the physio — mentioning nausea, fatigue, and a restless night’s sleep — before opting to retire rather than push through her discomfort. The decision meant that Ruzic would advance to her first ever WTA 1000 quarterfinal, a remarkable turnaround for a player who had failed to qualify and entered the main draw only because of multiple withdrawals.

Ruzic’s tournament run has already captivated fans. The world No. 67 first made headlines by upsetting Raducanu, an established Grand Slam champion, in a grueling three-set battle. Following that win, Ruzic carried her momentum into the Rybakina encounter, forcing her opponent into a deciding set before the retirement.

“It’s certainly not the way I wanted to win,” Ruzic said after her fourth career victory over a major champion. “But you’ve got to take your second chance when it comes, and I’m doing that today. I hope Elena feels better soon.”

The outcome also highlights the bizarre string of misfortune that has plagued the 2026 Dubai draw. The world’s top two players — Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek — withdrew before the tournament began, and a slew of notable players either pulled out or retired mid-match, making this one of the most unpredictable events of the season.

Ruzic, meanwhile, is relishing the unexpected opportunity. After her upset of Raducanu, she has already made headlines and her confidence appears high. With a quarterfinal match against either Elina Svitolina or Jasmine Paolini on the horizon, the Croatian will now aim to keep her Cinderella story alive.

For Rybakina, the premature end to her Dubai run is a sobering moment after her 2026 Australian Open triumph, where she secured her second Grand Slam title in a dramatic final. The abrupt retirement suggests that even elite athletes are vulnerable to physical limitations — especially in a season packed with high-intensity events stretching from Melbourne to the Middle East.

Post-match reactions from commentators and former players have ranged from concern for Rybakina’s health to surprise at the continued flight path of a lucky loser who might otherwise have been overlooked before the tournament began. Regardless of how Ruzic’s story unfolds in Dubai, her emergence has already become one of the most compelling narratives of the early 2026 WTA season.

As the tournament progresses, attention will shift toward the quarterfinals, where a combination of seasoned veterans and unexpected challengers will battle for a place in the semifinals. For fans and pundits alike, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships continue to deliver drama — on and off the court.