Elena Rybakina reveals the importance of representing Kazakhstan on the tennis circuit
Elena Rybakina represented Kazakhstan at the 2025 United Cup in Sydney and helped the team reach the semi-finals.
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Elena Rybakina (Image via X)
Elena Rybakina has established herself among the top WTA players. Since claiming the 2022 Wimbledon Championship, she has been flying high and has won several noteworthy titles. However, this season hasn’t gone as expected for her, but she’s proud of representing Kazakhstan in national tennis tournaments.
Earlier this season, Rybakina represented Kazakhstan at the United Cup and helped the team reach the semi-finals. But they couldn’t stand tall in their battle against Team Poland causing them to exit the tournament. She also represented her country at the Billie Jean King Cup last year.
Nonetheless, it was worth noting that Rybakina was born in Moscow, Russia, but she chose to naturalize in 2018. At the time she did that, she was still far from the WTA Top 100, and the decision helped her gain balance off the court. At one time, she reached the Top 3 of the rankings but suddenly dropped from that position.
During an interview featuring fellow tennis star Caroline Garcia, Rybakina revealed why she loves playing under the Kazakhstan flag.
I feel like in Kazakhstan tennis isn’t that popular. After winning Wimbledon I just remember everyone would speak about this achievement. When I came back a lot of kids came. And also, after some years, they were telling me from the federation the statistics of how many kids actually want to try and play tennis. So it was really amazing. A lot of support during the year, no matter where you are. You still see some Kazakh flags. It’s just really amazing. In my first Olympics also, I came fourth. But there was so much support each round I played. It’s really a privilege. It’s amazing to feel such support.
Elena Rybakina said via Tennis Insider podcast
Rybakina helped Kazakhstan reach the semi-finals of the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Finals. She featured in the quarter-finals win against Great Britain but then lost 0-3 to Spain in the last four.
Elena Rybakina shares the hardest thing to deal with as a tennis player
Elena Rybakina is experiencing one of the most difficult starts to the season in her career. The Kazakhstan star is yet to reach any tournament final in 2025 and recently failed to make her mark at the Sunshine Double. In fact, she fell to American Ashlyn Krueger in the second round of the Miami Open. During the aforementioned interview, she revealed that the hardest thing to deal with in tennis is failure.
Well, I think the most difficult is that you expect a lot from yourself. It’s not really the expectations of other people. Then when something doesn’t go your way, you’re getting upset. This is where it’s important who you surround yourself with. You need some kind of support. Someone who can push you. The team who believes in you…family, friends.
Elena Rybakina said
Rybakina has been hailed for her talent on the court but has failed to reach expectations. Since winning the 2022 Wimbledon Championship, she has only reached one Grand Slam final, which came at the 2023 Australian Open.
Elena Rybakina yet to win a title since April last year
Elena Rybakina has failed to claim a title this season. In fact, the last time she lifted a trophy was during last year’s clay swing at the Stuttgart Open. This year, she exited the Australian Open in the fourth round, losing in three sets to eventual champion Madison Keys. She then failed to defend her Abu Dhabi title, exiting in the semi-finals after defeat against Belinda Bencic.
At the Qatar Open, she reached the quarterfinals but lost to Iga Swiatek, while failing to get past the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships. At the Indian Wells, she was knocked out by 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round.
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