Australian Open 2025 results: Elina Svitolina beats fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina says she will need some “magic” if she is to go deep in Melbourne after struggling with a back problem in her third round.

Sixth seed Rybakina, runner-up at Melbourne Park two years ago, beat Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 6-3 6-4 but needed a medical time-out after just three games.

The 25-year-old Kazakh was clearly struggling to move and needed seven match points to seal victory.

Asked afterwards if her back was OK, Rybakina replied: “Not really. I’m going to see my physio and hopefully he’ll do some magic.

“It’s not so good because it’s (my) lower back. Hopefully we can do everything possible.

“But for now, it’s not looking too good, to be honest.”

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina had a string of injury problems in 2024, struggling at various times with fatigue, illness and back problems.

Rybakina will face Madison Keys, who later on Saturday beat Danielle Collins 6-4 6-4 in the fourth round on Monday.

Meanwhile, American eighth seed Emma Navarro won her third consecutive three-set meeting with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur.

The 23-year-old will next face Russian ninth seed Daria Kasatkina, who beat Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 7-5 6-1.