Kazakh Tennis Federation Hits Back After Russian Tennis Chief Claims Elena Rybakina Only Represents Country on Paper

Elena Rybakina has been representing Kazakhstan since 2018 on tour.

Kazakh Tennis Federation Hits Back After Russian Tennis Chief Claims Elena Rybakina Only Represents Country on Paper

Elena Rybakina (Image via X/US Open Tennis)

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The Kazakhstan Tennis Federation has slammed the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpishchev, after he claimed that Elena Rybakina has been using the country solely for her sporting career and that she has a residence in Moscow. The accusation amid a growing number of Russian players switching national allegiance.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, several players have switched their allegiance to other European countries. The Russian flag has been banned in the WTA and ATP Tours, and players from the country play under a neutral flag. Also, they have been banned from featuring in national tournaments like the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.

Former Russian player Polina Kudermetova switched her allegiance to Uzbekistan, despite her sister Veronika being heavily criticized for her links with ranked Russian sponsors, including Tatneft, an oil and gas giant. Recently, Anastasia Potapova made a move to switch nationality due to visa issues.

Potapova switched to Austria and will represent the country in national events from 2026. Meanwhile, Rybakina was born in Moscow and spent most of her childhood there; however, she has been playing for Kazakhstan since 2018 after the country helped her with funds and support to become a professional player.

In a recent interview on MatchTV, Tarpishchev revealed that Rybakina cannot be blamed for switching her allegiance to Kazakhstan as she was seventh in her age group. But he noted that she also keeps ties with Russia while representing Kazakhstan in sports. The Kazakhstan Tennis Federation then replied to Tarpishchev’s claims on sports.kz, stating that Rybakina is a citizen of their country:

She is a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan, has a Kazakh passport, and is registered in the capital, Astana. Elena herself has repeatedly stated this. Claims that she has ‘Russian citizenship’ or some kind of ‘sports citizenship’ are not true — there is no such thing as ‘sports citizenship’ in Kazakhstan. Elena Rybakina has officially represented Kazakhstan in all international tournaments since 2018 and is a member of the national team.

Rybakina has represented Kazakhstan at the Billie Jean King Cup and United Cup. However, despite the Russian Tennis losing a host of female players on tour, they have managed to hold on to the likes of Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov, who are currently ranked in the top 20 in the ATP rankings.

Former WTA player believes no player would love to face Elena Rybakina at the 2026 Australian Open

Elena Rybakina ended the year with an impressive form that saw her win two titles in her last three tournaments. The 26-year-old claimed the Ningbo Open, which helped her secure a place in the WTA Finals in Riyadh. At the season-ending tournament, she claimed her third title of the season after beating Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.

Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Rybakina’s form has led former WTA player Rennae Stubbs to believe that she will be the player to beat at the 2026 Australian Open. Stubbs revealed during the latest episode of her Rennae Stubbs podcast that no player would like to face Rybakina in Melbourne next year as she will be in good form:

Rybakina has had a little bit of an up and down year, but I think, look out for her in Australia. She smoked Sabalenka a couple of years ago in Brisbane. I think that’s when she should have won the Australian Open after what she did to Sabalenka the week before, but she will be there and knocking on the door big time. And no player wants to play her. No player.

Rybakina is still seeking her second Grand Slam title. Since winning the Wimbledon Championships in 2022, she has been able to reach the final of a major tournament just once, and that came at the 2023 Australian Open. There, she lost the title to Sabalenka.

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