"Elena does not live in Moscow": Kazakh Tennis Federation hits back as Russian tennis chief's claims Rybakina only represents country on paper

Elena Rybakina has been backed by the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation amid claims that she has been using the country for her sporting career solely and that she has a residence in Moscow so is only a Kazakh player on paper.

Shamil Tarpischev recently spoke about the former Wimbledon champion amid a growing number of Russian players who have switched their allegiance mostly in the past few weeks. The most recent being Polina Kudermetova who is now representing Uzbekistan. This was somewhat of a surprise given that her sister Veronika has long been criticised for her links to high ranked Russian sponsors including Tatneft, the oil and gas giant and she remains linked to Russia.

But many have seemingly made the move reportedly due to visa issues when it comes to representing Russia. Anastasia Potapova was the first in a long line. She now represents Austria. The number of changes comes amid Russia's ongoing ban from team competitions due to the war in Ukraine.

Rybakina was born in Moscow but has played for Kazakhstan since 2018 after receiving an offer from the country for funding, training bases, support and money. Speaking at the time, she said that 'everything came together in that moment' but Tarpischev said that she cannot be blamed for switching given she was seventh in her age group. But that she keeps ties to Russia and that she has a 'sports citizenship' solely to Kazakhstan. As well as that it was done solely for sports purposes.

Tarpischev referenced Potapova as well as those who joined Uzbekistan which also features Kamilla Rakhimova. Other players such as Daria Kasatkina have left to join Australia albeit she left for different reasons than the others. “Three people left for Uzbekistan, Potapova left for Austria… And that’s about it, really. And it wasn’t the leaders who left, but those who don’t make it to the Olympic Games. Plus, young players are being bought out,” Tarpischev told Match TV.

"People also like to remind us about Rybakina. But we can be blamed for not seeing that she would become a star. At the time she left, she was seventh in her age group. But she lives in Moscow and has Russian citizenship. Her sports citizenship is Kazakhstan. It was done for her sports career.”

Concerning Rybakina using Kazakhstan supposedly as a 'sports citizenship', the Kazakh Tennis Federation have issued a statement saying they don't provide such a thing and that she lives and trains in the country. As well as representing the country at multiple national tournaments including United Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.

“The information circulated with comments by the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpishchev, about Elena Rybakina’s citizenship is not true. Elena Rybakina does not live in Moscow,” KTF said as per a statement sent to sports.kz.

“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.”