Elena Rybakina

Elena Andreyevna Rybakina (born 17 June 1999) is a Russian-born Kazakhstani professional tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), making her the first Kazakhstani to be ranked in the world's top 10 and the current No. 1 Kazakh player in women's singles. Rybakina is also the first player from Kazakhstan to win a title at a major tournament, claiming the 2022 Wimbledon Championships. Rybakina has reached thirteen other finals on the WTA Tour, winning four further tournaments, including two WTA 1000 titles at the 2023 Indian Wells Open and the 2023 Italian Open. Rybakina reached a career-high combined junior ranking of No. 3, entered two junior major semifinals, and won a Grade-A title at the Trofeo Bonfiglio in 2017. Born and playing as a Russian, Rybakina switched federations to Kazakhstan in June 2018, having just entered the top 200 for the first time a month earlier. Prior to the switch, she did not have an individual coach as a junior, and did not hire a traveling coach until early 2019. Her first consistent success on the WTA Tour came in mid-2019 and was highlighted by her first WTA Tour title at the Bucharest Open as well as her top 100 debut. Rybakina made a breakthrough in the 2020 season, during which she led the tour with five finals, including four in her first five events of the year. Rybakina is noted for her excellent serve and can generate high-powered groundstrokes. She plays primarily from the baseline and has good movement for her height. Early life and background Elena Rybakina was born on 17 June 1999 in Moscow to Andre and Ekaterina. She started playing sports with her older sister, Anna, from a very young age, originally focusing on gymnastics and ice skating. Upon being told that she was too tall to become a professional in either of those sports, her father suggested she switch to tennis instead because of his interest in the sport. Rybakina began playing tennis at the age of six.