Elena Rybakina meets the President of Slovakia after country provided foundations for Grand Slam success
WTAThursday, 17 September 2026 at 11:30
There is a lot of attention surrounding Elena Rybakina following her latest Grand Slam title run. Her success at the US Open also earned her the World No.1 spot for the very first time. She was invited by the President of Slovakia to the Presidential Palace in honour of her incredible achievements as of late.
The Kazakh has spent a lot of time in the past residing in Slovakia. The capital city, Bratislava, is a key location for her as he prepares for Grand Slam tournaments and has served her well this year with the Australian Open and US Open titles won in rampant fashion.
The country also has a part to play in Rybakina's relationship with coach Stefano Vukov. Slovak coach Vladimír Pláteník brought the Croat to Trnava in 2019, with Rybakina ranked around 200th in the world at the time.
Speaking to the Slovak daily Pravda in January, Rybakina previously shared her positive feelings for Slovakia. “I spend six or seven weeks a year with you. Bratislava is my second home,” she said. “I’ve even picked up some Slovak, though not much. I feel great there. I like the city and the countryside. I’ve grown fond of Slovakia.”
Rybakina meets the President of Slovakia
The President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, met Rybakina at the Presidential Palace in the wake of her latest Grand Slam heroics, along with the ranking breakthrough as well.
Elena Rybakina won the 2026 US Open
On X, he wrote: "Although Elena Rybakina represents Kazakhstan on the international stage, Slovakia has become her second home. She spends part of each year here training and preparing for major matches and tournaments, making our country an important part of her sporting journey.
"It was therefore a great pleasure to welcome her to the Presidential Palace today and to personally congratulate her on her success at the US Open."
He walked into the room with some flowers, which he handed over to Rybakina. In return, she showed the racket that was used in the final. After speaking for some time, they took pictures with the prized possession of the US Open trophy also included.
Did you know that the current World No. 1 in women’s tennis has called Slovakia home for the past six years?
— Peter Pellegrini (@PellegriniP_) September 16, 2026
Although Elena Rybakina represents Kazakhstan on the international stage, Slovakia has become her second home. She spends part of each year here training and preparing… pic.twitter.com/KMT8Wmvd0W
Asian swing around the corner
Rybakina is one of the top players not getting her Asian swing underway next week. She has opted to have a bit of a rest before getting back competing at the China Open ahead of the Wuhan Open. The brace of WTA 1000 tournaments are great chances for her to continue her incredible form and extend her lead out in front in the WTA rankings.
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The WTA Finals will also be on her radar at the end of the year. Set to be held in Indian Wells, Rybakina is the defending champion after taking down Sabalenka last year and will be under pressure to live up to the expectations once more.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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