Elena Rybakina, the newly crowned world No. 1, will miss Kazakhstan’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals campaign in Shenzhen, China, to recover from an Achilles injury that affected her during her recent US Open victory.
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Rybakina announced her withdrawal on Friday, just six days after defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open final. This win marked her third Grand Slam title and elevated her to the top of the WTA rankings, making her the first Kazakh player to achieve this status.
In her Instagram post, Rybakina expressed her disappointment about missing the event in Shenzhen, citing the physical toll of the past month on her body. She acknowledged the need to recover fully before competing again, wishing her teammates good luck in her absence.
The Kazakhstan Tennis Federation noted that Rybakina sustained her Achilles injury during the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, where she withdrew from the quarterfinals. Despite the injury, she delivered a remarkable performance at the US Open, playing her final matches while using painkillers.
Rybakina's US Open victory added to her impressive season, as she has now claimed titles at both hard-court Grand Slam events in 2023. This win ended Sabalenka's time at No. 1 in the rankings, propelling Rybakina to the top for the first time.
Her current focus is on recovery. According to her coaching team, Rybakina will undergo at least two weeks of treatment and rehabilitation before she can resume full training. She plans to return to Kazakhstan for further medical examinations and will also engage with fans and conduct tennis masterclasses for young players in Astana and Almaty.
Rybakina's absence is a significant loss for Kazakhstan ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, scheduled for September 22-27 at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. Kazakhstan is set to face Spain in the quarterfinals on September 23, with Rybakina having been a key player alongside Yulia Putintseva, Anna Danilina, Zhibek Kulambayeva, and Sonya Zhiyenbayeva, all under the captaincy of Yuriy Schukin.
Putintseva will now lead the singles competition, as the team looks to leverage its doubles strengths against Spain. Italy enters the tournament as the defending champion, having secured the title in the last two editions.