(Eastbourne) Kazakh Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the Eastbourne International, citing a virus.

This withdrawal of the tournament favorite, announced before her first round match, comes one week before the start of the Wimbledon tournament, of which Rybakina is the defending champion.

Rybakina also withdrew from the French Open a month ago, still due to a virus, before her third round match. She played in the Berlin Open last week, losing in the second round.

On the courts, ex-world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, a two-time Eastbourne winner, took advantage of Elise Mertens’ retirement with a left hip injury as she trailed 6 -7 (3), 6-3, 3-0.

Pliskova, crowned in 2017 and 2019 at Eastbourne, will face Daria Kasatkina in the next round.

In the men’s draw, the sixth seed, Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, was upset by American J. J. Wolf 6-2, 6-4. This is Wolf’s first career grass-court victory.