Tennis-Defending champion Rybakina pulls out of Indian Wells

Tennis - WTA 1000 - Dubai Tennis Championships - Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - February 21, 2024 Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in action during her round of 16 match against Poland's Magdalena Frech REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) -Defending champion Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from Indian Wells ahead of her first match due to illness, tournament organizers said on Friday.

"It is with great sadness I must announce, I will not be able to participate at this years Indian Wells tournament due to gastrointestinal issues," she said.