Elena Rybakina won't play opening Billie Jean King Cup Finals tie for Kazakhstan after tight WTA Finals turnaround

Elena Rybakina won't play the opening tie for Kazakhstan as Billie Jean King Cup Finals selections have been confirmed ahead of their opener against Australia in Seville.

Rybakina who was pictured in Seville on her Instagram and in other social media with the team only arrived days ago after being involved in the WTA Finals and likely isn't ready to play again after the tight turnaround.

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Tomljanovic also out for Australia

Instead, Yulia Putintseva who is the other top Kazakh player on the team will anchor their charge albeit against a nation with their best player on paper also missing in the form of Ajla Tomljanovic.

Tomljanovic has suffered with a knee injury which saw her out of most of 2023 and she only returned at the US Open and then Guadalajara in recent months likely plotting a more extended tour return going into 2024 with the Australian Open. But again will not play this time around.

As a result, Storm Hunter, Kimberly Birrell and Ellen Perez with Hunter who like Rybakina played in Cancun in the doubles and also lamented the conditions will be involved against Kazakhstan. It is likely feasible that both will play going forward this tournament and especially in Rybakina's case, this was always likely going to be the case.

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José Morgado

@josemorgado

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No Rybakina or Tomljanovic…

ITF Media

@ITFMedia

Player selections for 🇦🇺 Australia v Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 🇦🇺 Storm Hunter v Anna Danilina 🇰🇿 (first meeting) 🇦🇺 Kimberly Birrell v Yulia Putintseva 🇰🇿 (first Tour-level meeting) 🇦🇺 Hunter/Perez v Danilina/Kulambayeva 🇰🇿

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