Elena Rybakina last played in the 2024 US Open back in August where she withdrew from the second round after sacking coach Stefano Vukov. But it seems like she is ready to go for Riyadh and the WTA Finals.
Rybakina targeted a return at the WTA Finals after skipping Beijing and Wuhan due to a back issue which also saw her out of Seoul. She said back in September that she hoped to be ready for the WTA Finals. This after the culture surrounding her ex-coach was reported.
Tennis insider Sonya Tartakova said that her injury troubles and issues with Vukov were interlinked and that there was constant pressure, insults and bad words from the coach reportedly. She has not played since that split but Yuri Schukin who is the current captain of Kazakhstan and also part of Rybakina's team at least in the short term until a new coach is appointed said she is feeling better and ready for Riyadh.
"Currently our athletes are preparing to perform against the Korean Team. Elena Rybakina, Zarina Diyas, Yulia Putintseva, Anna Danilina, Zhibek Kulambayeva have been declared members of the National team," said Schukin as per KTF KZ.
"The leader of our team Elena Rybakina plans to play at the WTA Finals tournament by the end of this playing season, where she qualified due to her successful results at the beginning of the year. Now Elena feels well, and if she manages to show a confident game in Riyadh, she is determined to play in the matches against the Korean team."
He was speaking about the Billie Jean King Cup in which they will face Korea in November. She also plans to play United Cup, she was confirmed in the line-up this past week and has enjoyed 90 weeks in the top 10 as of this week.
