Elena Rybakina set to lose big in WTA Rankings after representing country instead of Stuttgart Open

Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and one of the most promising talents in women’s tennis, is poised to fall out of the WTA Top 10 following her decision to skip the Stuttgart Open in favor of representing Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup.

The 25-year-old has had a challenging season so far, failing to reach a final in any of the six WTA tournaments she’s entered. Her most recent performance saw her exit the Miami Open in the second round after a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to American Ashlyn Krueger.

Rybakina was due to defend 500 ranking points in Stuttgart, where she claimed the title last year with a dominant victory over Marta Kostyuk (6-2, 6-2). Her absence this year means those points will be wiped from her ranking, causing her to slip out of the Top 10.

Despite the ranking setback, Rybakina prioritized national duty, helping Kazakhstan qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals with a win over Australia. However, she voiced her concerns about the cramped tennis calendar.

“I know the schedule overall is very packed, and it’s not easy to even schedule the Billie Jean King Cup,” Rybakina said. “Ideally, if we’re in one part of the world, it would be nicer to play there. Now, the clay court season has started, and some players are already on clay. To then go back and play on hard courts — it’s tricky. Tournaments need better geographic planning.”

Despite the dip in form and upcoming ranking drop, Rybakina remains a key figure in women’s tennis and continues to show her commitment both to the sport and her country.