United Cup 2025: Elena Rybakina opens up new season, anchors Kazakhstan to Spain win

Elena Rybakina led from the front as Kazakhstan sealed an opening win at the United Cup over Spain in Perth as the 2025 season has officially begun. Winning the mixed doubles rubber with Alexander Shevchenko, it was the former Wimbledon champion that stood out.

She pulled her country back onto level terms with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Bouzas Maneiro in the second match of the day, she then teamed with Shevchenko who had previously lost to Carreno Busta to win a tough mixed doubles over the latter and also Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 10-7.

It was her first match alongside her new coach in Goran Ivanisevic and she showed improvements. Overall she will be happy just to be back out on the court again after a torrid 2024 which saw her start so brightly in Australia before injury and illness took hold. As well as dispensing with coach Stefano Vukov who was long criticised for his perceived handling of the talented Kazakh.

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She eased into a quick 4-0 lead, but Bouzas Maneiro jumped back into the tie. She had four break points at 4-2 to pull it back onto serve. But Rybakina powered her way out wrestling back the momentum and broke for a one set lead.

She took the lead in the second firing backhand winners in a love break for 4-2. Bouzas Maneiro pushed but couldn't stop the Rybakina charge as she regrouped and closed out the win in the end from 5-3.

Rybakina claimed 71% of Bouzas Maneiro's second serve points and was as deadly on break chances converting four out of five. She was 8-2 last year in Australia including that incredible Brisbane run and will hope with a new coach and a new impetus that the only way is up, her opening outing proved it could be.

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