Kazakhstan’s Captain Reveals Real Reason Behind Elena Rybakina’s Billie Jean King Cup Withdrawal

Elena Rybakina will not be a part of Kazakhstan’s Billie Jean King Cup team for the qualifiers. The qualifying rounds are set to start on April 10 and conclude the following day.

Kazakhstan will face Canada in Astana. The Kazakh aces who will be featuring in the tournament are Yulia Putintseva, Anna Danilina, Zhibek Kulambayeva, Aruzhan Sagandykova, and Sonja Zhiyenbayeva. The team will be led by captain Yuri Schukin. Ahead of the tournament, Schukin told the reporters why Rybakina chose to skip the Billie Jean King Cup.

You see, after Australia, she’s ranked 2nd in the world, and she has a chance to become No. 1. But with such a packed schedule, she has to skip some tournaments-like the Billie Jean King Cup, where you’re representing your country. All of this is to achieve such a feat for the country and become the best in the world. This was a joint decision by the tennis federation; it wasn’t just Lena’s decision.

Yuri Schukin told the media

Rybakina reduced her ranking gap between her and World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka after her three-set win over the Belarusian ace in the Australian Open final. At present, Sabalenka, with 11025 points, has a 2,917 lead over Rybakina (8108).

Was this decision related to the fact that it’s just a qualifier? Most likely not, because, as I already said, in tennis, the opportunity to become number one doesn’t always come along. This is a historic moment. That’s why we didn’t want to miss it. You never know, because injuries happen in sports. That’s why this joint decision was made.

Yuri Schukin added

After the Australian Open final, Rybakina and Sabalenka also met in the Indian Wells final. But the Kazakh ace couldn’t repeat the result and lost the match. Both players will next be playing the Stuttgart Open, where Rybakina is a former champion (2024), and Sabalenka is a four-time finalist.

Rybakina chose not to defend her title in Stuttgart last year and instead played the Billie Jean King Cup. But this time, she, as well as the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, deemed it best that she focus on her singles events.

Sabalenka will be chasing her fourth title of the season following her victories in Brisbane, Indian Wells, and Miami. Rybakina’s Miami run was ended by Sabalenka in the semifinals.

Steve Johnson says Jessica Pegula needs big weapons like Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina to win Majors

Jessica Pegula defended her Charleston Open crown with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva. Pegula is one of the most consistent players on the tour, but in spite of that, the 2024 US Open finalist has yet to clinch a Grand Slam title.

Former ATP player Steve Johnson believes the reason why Pegula has yet to taste victory in Majors is due to her not possessing any big weapons, which Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have.

Like you know what you are going to get every single day Jess steps out there. But I think sometimes, for her, that lack of a massive weapon is holding her back from the bigger titles, as we see with Sabalenka or Rybakina, that they can just hit through their opponents when needed.

Steve Johnson said on the Nothing Major Show

Against Sabalenka, Pegula trails 3-9 in the head-to-head record, while against Rybakina, she holds a 3-6 record. In this year’s Australian Open, the 32-year-old lost to Rybakina in the semifinals.

The Charleston Open was Pegula’s second title of the season following the Dubai Tennis Championships. Last year, she played six finals, winning three titles (ATX Open, Charleston Open, and the Bad Homburg Open).

Also read: Alexander Bublik Reveals the Only Condition to Catch Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

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