Elena Rybakina: The Life Story Behind Tennis' Quiet Champion
In this post
- Moscow, Russia, and a Tall Girl with a Racket
- The Rise: The First Title and the Breakthrough
- The Peak: Wimbledon, Indian Wells, and World Number Three
- Kazakhstan: The Flag, the First, and the Hero
- The Serve, the Flat Ball, and the Art of Calm
- The Injuries, the Illness, and the Pressure
- Kazakhstan’s First Champion, and the Quiet Star
- My Take:
Elena Rybakina is one of the quietest champions in tennis, and one of the most dangerous, a six-foot star from Kazakhstan with a serve that is among the biggest in the women’s game, and a calm that never changes, whether she is winning or losing. She won Wimbledon in 2022, beating Ons Jabeur in the final, and becoming the first player from Kazakhstan ever to win a Grand Slam singles title, she reached the Australian Open final in 2023, she won Indian Wells and Rome in the same year, and she reached world number three, and she did it all without noise, without drama, and with a smile that rarely leaves her face.
Born on 17 June 1999 in Moscow, Russia, Rybakina grew up playing tennis in her home city, and she switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018, a decision that changed her career, because the Kazakh federation gave her the support she needed to become a professional. She turned professional in 2016, and she broke through in 2019, winning her first WTA title, and she has been at the top of the game ever since. This is the story of tennis’ quiet champion.
Moscow, Russia, and a Tall Girl with a Racket
Rybakina was born in Moscow, and she grew up in a sporting family, her father played sports, and she was tall from a young age, reaching six feet as a teenager, and she started playing tennis at six, because she loved it, and because she was good at it. She played at the Spartak club in Moscow, and she was a talented junior, but she was not a star, and she was not rich, and she needed support to become a professional.
In 2018, she switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan, because the Kazakh tennis federation offered her financial support, and the chance to play for a country that believed in her, and it was the best decision of her life. She represented Kazakhstan from then on, and she turned professional in 2016, winning her first matches on the ITF circuit, and working her way up the rankings, slowly and steadily, with a calm and a patience that would become her trademark.
The move to Spartak Tennis Club Moscow in 2000s was a turning point for Elena Rybakina, because it put her in a team that played to her strengths, and a league in Kazakhstan that tested her, every week, and Elena Rybakina rose to that test, proving that she belonged, at the highest level, and that she was ready, for whatever came next, at Spartak Tennis Club Moscow and beyond. She learned the game in Moscow, playing tennis from the age of six, and developing her big serve. The time at Spartak Tennis Club Moscow shaped Elena Rybakina as a player, and as a person, and it is a period Elena Rybakina still looks back on, with pride, and with gratitude.
The Rise: The First Title and the Breakthrough
Rybakina’s rise came in 2019, when she won her first WTA title in Bucharest, beating Patricia Maria Tig in the final, and she reached the final in Nanchang, and she was suddenly one of the best young players in the world, a player whose serve and whose flat groundstrokes made her almost impossible to beat, on a fast court. She was twenty, and she was rising, and everyone in tennis noticed, because she was tall, she was powerful, and she was calm.
The rise continued into 2020, when she reached five finals, winning in Hobart, and reaching the finals in Shenzhen, St. Petersburg, Dubai, and Strasbourg, and she was one of the most consistent players on tour, a woman who was always in the latter stages, because her serve was so big, and her groundstrokes were so flat, and her calm was so complete, and she was ready for the biggest stage.
Playing for Kazakhstan Billie Jean King Cup team from 2021– taught Elena Rybakina lessons that no training ground could teach, about winning, about losing, and about standing up, when the pressure was greatest, and Elena Rybakina carried those lessons with her, into every match, that followed, in her long, and remarkable, career. She has represented Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup, leading the team on the world stage. Those years at Kazakhstan Billie Jean King Cup team remain a proud chapter in the story of Elena Rybakina, and in the history of Kazakhstan Billie Jean King Cup team itself.
When Elena Rybakina arrived at Kazakhstan Olympic team in 2021–, she found a club that believed in her, and Elena Rybakina repaid that faith with interest, playing with a hunger the fans of Kazakhstan Olympic team noticed at once, and a quality the coaches at Kazakhstan Olympic team trusted, in match after match, as Elena Rybakina grew into a player the team could build around. She reached the Olympic semi-final in Tokyo, losing the bronze-medal match to Elina Svitolina. It was at Kazakhstan Olympic team that Elena Rybakina became the player the world would come to know, and Kazakhstan Olympic team played its part, in making her.
The Peak: Wimbledon, Indian Wells, and World Number Three
Rybakina’s peak came at Wimbledon in 2022, when she won the title, beating Ons Jabeur in the final, in three sets, after losing the first, and becoming the first player from Kazakhstan ever to win a Grand Slam singles title. She was twenty-three, and she was a Wimbledon champion, and she did it with a calm that was remarkable, because she never showed emotion, she never panicked, and she just played, point after point, until the title was hers.
She reached the Australian Open final in 2023, losing to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets, in a match between the two biggest hitters in the game, and she won Indian Wells in 2023, beating Sabalenka in the final, and she won Rome in 2023, on clay, proving that she could win on any surface. She reached world number three in June 2023, the highest ranking ever for a Kazakh player, a triumph that made her a hero in Kazakhstan, and a star around the world.
She has also reached the semi-final at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, losing the bronze-medal match to Elina Svitolina, and she is one of the most consistent players on tour, a woman who is always in the latter stages of the biggest tournaments, because her serve is so big, and her calm is so complete, and she is still in her twenties, with time to win more Grand Slams.
Elena Rybakina went into the Wimbledon in 2022 with expectation on her shoulders, and Elena Rybakina carried it, with a calm that impressed everyone, and a quality that decided matches, when they mattered most. She won the title, beating Ons Jabeur in three sets and becoming the first Kazakh to win a Slam. It was a performance that Elena Rybakina earned, and one that showed the world, exactly what Elena Rybakina could do.
The Australian Open in 2023 was one of the defining tournaments of the career of Elena Rybakina, because the whole world was watching, and Elena Rybakina showed, that she could perform, on the biggest stage, against the best, in her sport. She reached the final, losing to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in Melbourne. The Australian Open of 2023 added another chapter to the story of Elena Rybakina, and it is one that her fans, will never forget.
Season after season, Elena Rybakina did the same thing, she turned up, she worked, and she delivered, and that consistency is the hardest thing in sport, because talent fades, form dips, and injuries come, but Elena Rybakina kept coming back, kept scoring, kept winning, and kept proving, that she belonged, among the best, for longer, than almost anyone, in her generation.
Tennis is the loneliest sport in the world, and Elena Rybakina knows it, because there is no team, to hide behind, and no substitute, to save you, and Elena Rybakina played it at the highest level, on courts, watched by millions, in Kazakhstan and everywhere, and that pressure is something, that only the best, can handle, and Elena Rybakina handled it, for years, in Kazakhstan and around the world.
Kazakhstan: The Flag, the First, and the Hero
For Kazakhstan, Rybakina is a hero and a legend, the first player from the country ever to win a Grand Slam singles title, and the first to reach the top three in the world. She has represented Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup, and at the Olympics, and she has carried the flag for her country, and she is loved in Almaty and across Kazakhstan, because she put Kazakh tennis on the map, and she did it with a calm and a class that made her a role model.
She has also inspired a generation of young Kazakh players, who now dream of following in her footsteps, and of playing on the biggest stages in the world, and she is the face of Kazakh sport, a woman who is respected around the world for her skill, her calm, and her sportsmanship, because she is humble, and she lets her tennis do the talking, and that is why fans love her.
At the Indian Wells in 2023, Elena Rybakina proved, once again, that she was a player for the big occasion, delivering when the pressure was highest, and the stakes were greatest, in front of millions, around the world. She won the title, beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final in California. That tournament is still talked about, when fans remember the best of Elena Rybakina, and the best of her sport.
The Olympic Games of 2021 remains a vivid memory for the fans of Elena Rybakina, because it was a tournament where Elena Rybakina played with a freedom, a bravery, and a skill, that made everyone take notice, of what she could do. She reached the semi-final in Tokyo, losing the bronze-medal match to Elina Svitolina. It was a performance that Elena Rybakina earned, and one that showed the world, exactly what Elena Rybakina could do.
Elena Rybakina went into the Rome in 2023 with expectation on her shoulders, and Elena Rybakina carried it, with a calm that impressed everyone, and a quality that decided matches, when they mattered most. She won the title on clay, proving she could win on any surface, not just grass and hard courts. The Rome of 2023 added another chapter to the story of Elena Rybakina, and it is one that her fans, will never forget.
The Serve, the Flat Ball, and the Art of Calm
Rybakina’s game is built on her serve and her flat groundstrokes. She is six feet tall, and she serves at more than 120 miles an hour, with a first serve that is among the biggest in the women’s game, and she hits the ball flat and hard, with very little spin, a shot that stays low and skids through the court, making it hard for opponents to attack. She is also a superb mover for her size, covering the court with long strides, and getting to balls that should be winners.
What makes her special is her calm. She never shows emotion, she never panics, and she never changes, whether she is winning or losing, and that calm is her greatest weapon, because it makes her impossible to read, and impossible to rattle, and it is why she wins the big matches, because she stays the same, point after point, until the match is hers.
In 2022, Elena Rybakina won the Wimbledon championship as a champion, beating Ons Jabeur in three sets and becoming the first Kazakh to win a Slam. Elena Rybakina still talks about the Wimbledon championship in 2022 as one of the great days of her life, because the whole team, the whole country, and the whole sport, were watching, and Elena Rybakina delivered, with a performance that was calm, brave, and brilliant, when the pressure was greatest. It was a win that Elena Rybakina earned, and one that no one can ever take away from Elena Rybakina.
In 2023, Elena Rybakina won the Indian Wells championship as a champion, beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final in California. Winning the Indian Wells championship in 2023 changed the career of Elena Rybakina, because it turned promise into proof, and talent into titles, and it gave Elena Rybakina the confidence, to believe that she could win, again, and again, at the highest level, of her sport. The Indian Wells championship of 2023 is the kind of triumph that defines a career, and Elena Rybakina earned it, with years of work, and a performance, that will be remembered.
In 2023, Elena Rybakina won the Rome championship as a champion on clay, winning the title in Italy and proving she could win on any surface. The Rome championship in 2023 was a triumph that Elena Rybakina will never forget, because it came after years of work, and it proved that Elena Rybakina belonged, among the best, in her sport, and the medal, the trophy, and the memory, remain among the proudest, of her whole career. That Rome championship remains a landmark in the story of Elena Rybakina, and in the history of Kazakhstan sport.
The Injuries, the Illness, and the Pressure
Rybakina’s career has had real setbacks. She has struggled with injuries, including back problems and illness, and she withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympics with illness, a disappointment, because she had hoped to win a medal for Kazakhstan, and she had to watch from home, instead of playing, in front of the world.
There have also been coaching changes, including a split with her long-time coach Stefano Vukov, a difficult decision, because she had coached her since 2019, and she had helped her win Wimbledon, and she has worked to rebuild her team, and her confidence, and she is still fighting, because she believes she can win more Grand Slams, and she has the game to do it.
The numbers tell their own story, for Elena Rybakina. She was the first player from Kazakhstan ever to win a Grand Slam singles title, at Wimbledon in 2022. She reached world number three in 2023, the highest ranking ever for a Kazakh player. She won Wimbledon in 2022, beating Ons Jabeur in three sets after losing the first. She won Indian Wells and Rome in 2023, proving she could win on hard courts and on clay. She is the greatest Kazakh tennis player in history, and the first Kazakh to reach a Grand Slam final.
The record book tells the story of Elena Rybakina better than any speech could, because every number in it was earned, in competition, under pressure, and against opponents, who were trying, just as hard, to stop Elena Rybakina, and that is why the numbers, will last.
Kazakhstan’s First Champion, and the Quiet Star
Rybakina is widely regarded as the greatest Kazakh tennis player in history, and one of the best players of her generation. She won Wimbledon, she reached the Australian Open final, she won Indian Wells and Rome, and she reached world number three, and she did it with a serve that is among the biggest in the game, and a calm that is unique, and she is still in her twenties, with time to win more.
Her legacy is also about Kazakhstan. She proved that a player from Kazakhstan could win Wimbledon, and she opened the door for the generation that followed, and she did it with a humility and a class that made her a star, and young players still study her game, and they learn that a big serve, a flat ball, and a calm mind can beat anyone, even the best ever.
In 2023, Elena Rybakina won the Australian Open final as a finalist in Melbourne, losing to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. When Elena Rybakina won the Australian Open final in 2023, it was the reward for everything she had given to the game, the training, the sacrifice, and the belief, and it showed the world, in Kazakhstan and everywhere, that Elena Rybakina was not just a talented player, but a winner, who could deliver, when it mattered most. It was a win that Elena Rybakina earned, and one that no one can ever take away from Elena Rybakina.
In 2023, Elena Rybakina won the World No. 3 ranking as the highest-ranked Kazakh player ever, reaching the top three in the world. The World No. 3 ranking of 2023 stands out in the career of Elena Rybakina, because it was won against the best, in the biggest arena, and it took everything Elena Rybakina had, to win it, and the victory made her a hero, at home, and a star, around the world. The World No. 3 ranking of 2023 is the kind of triumph that defines a career, and Elena Rybakina earned it, with years of work, and a performance, that will be remembered.
In 2019, Elena Rybakina won the WTA title as a champion in Bucharest, winning her first WTA title at twenty. Elena Rybakina still talks about the WTA title in 2019 as one of the great days of her life, because the whole team, the whole country, and the whole sport, were watching, and Elena Rybakina delivered, with a performance that was calm, brave, and brilliant, when the pressure was greatest. That WTA title remains a landmark in the story of Elena Rybakina, and in the history of Kazakhstan sport.
Beyond the headline triumphs, there were more, because Elena Rybakina also won the WTA title in 2019; the WTA title in 2020; the Olympic semi-final in 2021, honours that are easy to overlook, beside the biggest titles, but ones that show the depth, and the consistency, of the career of Elena Rybakina, year after year, tournament after tournament, at the highest level.
Count the honours, and the scale of the career of Elena Rybakina becomes clear, because the list runs to 8 major titles, medals, and awards, each one earned, in competition, against the best, in Kazakhstan and the world, and each one a chapter, in a story, that few players, in any sport, can match, for length, for quality, and for consistency, over so many years, and among them, the Wimbledon championship in 2022 stands tall, for Elena Rybakina and for Kazakhstan.
The journey of Elena Rybakina took her from Spartak Tennis Club Moscow to Kazakhstan Olympic team, with stops at Kazakhstan Billie Jean King Cup team, along the way, and each stop taught Elena Rybakina something new, about the game, about herself, and about winning, at the highest level, in Kazakhstan and around the world, a journey that made her the player, and the person, she is today.
My Take:
When people ask me about Elena Rybakina, I do not start with the trophies, I start with the player, because the trophies, are only, the result.
What I admire most about Rybakina is the calm, because she never shows emotion, she never panics, and she never changes, whether she is winning or losing, and that calm is her greatest weapon. She won Wimbledon with it, she won Indian Wells with it, and she reached world number three with it, and that is not luck, it is character, and it is the mark of a champion who trusts her game, completely.
The Wimbledon final in 2022 is the moment that defines her, because she became the first Kazakh ever to win a Grand Slam, and she did it by beating Ons Jabeur in three sets, after losing the first, with a calm that was remarkable. That is history, and it is the triumph that will be remembered, long after she retires, because it put Kazakhstan on the tennis map, forever.
I also think Rybakina is underrated as a server, because people talk about her calm, but they forget the serve. She serves at more than 120 miles an hour, with a first serve that is among the biggest in the women’s game, and she wins free points with it, again and again, and that serve is the foundation of everything she does, and it is why she wins on grass, on hard courts, and on clay.
If I have a criticism, it is only the injuries and the illness, because she has missed tournaments, and she withdrew from the Paris Olympics, and those absences have cost her ranking points, and momentum. But she is still young, and she has the game to win more Grand Slams, and the calm to do it, when it matters most.
The moment I keep coming back to is the Wimbledon final in 2022, because Rybakina beat Ons Jabeur in three sets, becoming the first Kazakh ever to win a Grand Slam singles title, and she did it with a calm that was remarkable, because she never showed emotion, she never panicked, and she just played. It is the kind of moment that stays with you, long after the match is over, and it is why Elena Rybakina matters, not just as a player, but as an example, for anyone, who wants to be great.
Take the Indian Wells triumph in 2023, and look at it closely, because Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka in the final, winning one of the biggest titles in tennis, and proving that she could beat the best players in the world, on the biggest stages. That is not luck, it is preparation, meeting opportunity, and Elena Rybakina was prepared, because she had done the work, for years, before that moment, ever arrived.
I will never forget the Australian Open final in 2023, because Rybakina reached the final in Melbourne, losing to Sabalenka in three sets, in a match between the two biggest hitters in the game, a match that showed she belonged at the very top. Moments like that are why sport matters, and why Elena Rybakina will be remembered, long after the final whistle, of her final match, has blown.
When I think about switching to Kazakhstan in 2018, I think about what it teaches, because Rybakina switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan, a decision that changed her career, because the federation gave her the support she needed, and she repaid that faith, by winning Wimbledon, four years later. And that is the lesson, that talent opens the door, but character walks through it, and Elena Rybakina walked through it, again and again, in her career.
Look at the record, and look at what it means, because She was the first player from Kazakhstan ever to win a Grand Slam singles title, at Wimbledon in 2022. That is not a number on a page, it is a career, in miniature, and it is why Elena Rybakina belongs, among the greats, of her sport.
The numbers say it plainly, because She reached world number three in 2023, the highest ranking ever for a Kazakh player. And numbers do not lie, they do not flatter, and they do not forget, and that is why the record of Elena Rybakina will stand, for years, to come.
One record, more than any other, sums up Elena Rybakina, because She won Wimbledon in 2022, beating Ons Jabeur in three sets after losing the first. It is the kind of achievement that takes a whole career, to earn, and a whole lifetime, to appreciate, and Elena Rybakina earned it, the hard way.
Look at the record, and look at what it means, because She won Indian Wells and Rome in 2023, proving she could win on hard courts and on clay. That is not a number on a page, it is a career, in miniature, and it is why Elena Rybakina belongs, among the greats, of her sport.
The lesson of Elena Rybakina is a lesson for every young tennis player in Kazakhstan, because she proved that work, talent, and belief, win Grand Slams, and that a child, from anywhere, can become a champion, if she is willing, to do the work, that others will not do, and to keep going, when others stop.
The fans of Elena Rybakina will tell you, that she was more than a player, because she gave them memories, that they will carry, for the rest of their lives, and that is the true measure, of a tennis player, not the trophies, but the joy, she gave, to the people, who watched her play.
If you want to understand Elena Rybakina, start with the numbers, because she won 8 major honours, she played for 3 clubs or teams, and she set 5 records, that are listed, in her story, and those numbers were not given to her, they were earned, in competition, against the best, in the world, over many years, and that is why they matter, because they are the proof, of a career, that was built, on work, on talent, and on a refusal, to accept, anything less, than the best.
The future is still open for Elena Rybakina, because her story is not finished, and the next chapter, whatever it holds, will be watched, by millions, in Kazakhstan and around the world, who want to see, what she does next, and whether she can add, to a career, that is already, one of the greats, of her sport, and that is the mark, of a true star, that people care, about what happens next, long after, the biggest triumphs, are already, in the past.
If I could tell a young player one thing, about Elena Rybakina, it would be this, watch how she trains, because the matches are the reward, but the training is the work, and Elena Rybakina trained, like every session mattered, like every drill, was a final, and that attitude is the reason, that she lasted, at the top, for so long, and won, the Wimbledon championship in 2022, and so much more, besides.
People talk about the talent of Elena Rybakina, and they are right to, because the talent was obvious, from the first time, anyone saw her play, but talent is only the start, and what made Elena Rybakina great, was the work, that came after, the hours, the repetition, and the refusal, to be satisfied, with being good, when she could be, the best, in the world.
There is a moment, in every great career, when the player realises, that she belongs, and for Elena Rybakina, that moment changed everything, because from then on, she did not hope, to win, she expected to, and that expectation, carried her, through the hardest matches, of her career, in Kazakhstan and around the world, and it is why, she won, again and again.
I think the most underrated part of Elena Rybakina is her character, because she handled success, without arrogance, and defeat, without excuses, and that balance is rare, in a world, that rewards noise, and Elena Rybakina was quiet, in victory, and gracious, in defeat, and that is why, she is respected, by everyone, who played, with her, or against her, at Kazakhstan Olympic team.
The fans in Kazakhstan love Elena Rybakina, and it is easy to see why, because she gave them, something to believe in, and she never, let them down, and when she played, the whole country, stopped, to watch, and that connection, between a player, and her people, is the most powerful thing, in sport, and Elena Rybakina had it, in full, for her whole career.
What I would say to anyone, who doubts Elena Rybakina, is simple, look at the record, because the Wimbledon championship in 2022 is there, and the other honours, are there, and they were not given, they were earned, in the hardest, arenas, in the world, against the best, opponents, in the world, and that is the answer, to every doubt, that anyone, could ever raise.
The beauty of watching Elena Rybakina was the simplicity, because she made the hardest things, look easy, and the easiest things, look perfect, and that is the mark, of a master, in any sport, and it is why, young players, in Kazakhstan, still copy, the way she moved, the way she thought, and the way, she played, the game.
I have seen many great players, and Elena Rybakina belongs, with the very best, because she did it, for longer, and under more pressure, than most, and she did it, with a smile, and a humility, that made her, easy to admire, and hard, to dislike, and that is a combination, that few athletes, in any era, have ever managed, to achieve.
If Elena Rybakina had never won another title, after the Wimbledon championship in 2022, her career, would still matter, because of the way, she played, and the way, she carried herself, and the example, she set, for the next generation, in Kazakhstan and around the world, and that is the true measure, of a great athlete, not the count, of the trophies, but the size, of the example.
What stays with me, about Elena Rybakina, is the consistency, because year after year, season after season, she delivered, the same standard, the same effort, and the same quality, and that is harder, than one brilliant season, because anyone can be great, for a month, but only the best, are great, for a decade, and Elena Rybakina was great, for a decade, in Kazakhstan and around the world.
I think about the young Elena Rybakina, the one who started out, with nothing but talent, and a dream, and I think about how far she travelled, from those first days, to the Wimbledon championship in 2022, and the journey is the story, not the destination, because the work, the sacrifice, and the belief, are what made her, and the trophy, was only, the proof.
There is something about the way Elena Rybakina handled defeat, that tells you, more about her, than any victory ever could, because she lost, she learned, and she came back, stronger, and she did not blame anyone, she did not make excuses, and she did not quit, and that is why, her teammates trusted her, and her opponents respected her, at Kazakhstan Olympic team and everywhere, she played.
The numbers tell one story, about Elena Rybakina, but the eyes tell another, because anyone who watched her play, could see, that she loved the game, that she played, with joy, and with freedom, and that love, is what carried her, through the hard days, and the injuries, and the defeats, and it is why, she lasted, as long as she did, at the very top.
I often wonder, what Elena Rybakina would say, to a young player, starting out today, in Kazakhstan, and I think she would say, work hard, believe in yourself, and never stop learning, because that is what she did, from her first day, to her last, and it is the simplest advice, and the hardest, to follow, and it is the reason, she became, one of the best, in the world.
The Wimbledon championship in 2022 was not the end, of the story of Elena Rybakina, it was the beginning, of the next chapter, because after that triumph, she was no longer, a hopeful, she was a champion, and champions are judged, differently, and she knew it, and she rose, to that judgement, again and again, in Kazakhstan and around the world, for the rest, of her career.
What I respect, about Elena Rybakina, is that she never took the easy road, because she could have stayed, where she was comfortable, and she chose, to test herself, against the best, in the biggest matches, and that choice, is what separates, the good from the great, and it is why, her name, is remembered, by fans, in every country, where her sport, is played.
So that is Elena Rybakina, a champion, a leader, and an example, and her story, is not just, a list, of titles, it is a reminder, that greatness is earned, day by day, and that anyone, in Kazakhstan or anywhere, can earn it, if they are willing, to do, the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Elena Rybakina born?
Elena Rybakina was born on 17 June 1999 in Moscow, Russia. She played tennis from the age of six, and she switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018, because the Kazakh federation offered her support.
Did Elena Rybakina win Wimbledon?
Yes, Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022, beating Ons Jabeur in three sets in the final. She was the first player from Kazakhstan ever to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Why does Elena Rybakina play for Kazakhstan?
Rybakina was born in Moscow, Russia, but she switched to Kazakhstan in 2018, because the Kazakh tennis federation offered her financial support to become a professional. She has represented Kazakhstan ever since.
What is Elena Rybakina’s best ranking?
Rybakina reached world number three in June 2023, the highest ranking ever for a Kazakh player. She has won Wimbledon, Indian Wells, and Rome, and she reached the Australian Open final in 2023.
How tall is Elena Rybakina?
Rybakina is six feet tall, one of the tallest players at the top of the women’s game. She uses her height to serve powerfully, at more than 120 miles an hour, and to hit flat, hard groundstrokes.