Despite a wave of withdrawals from top players like Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina delivered a commanding performance to lead Kazakhstan past Australia in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.
Currently ranked World No. 10, Rybakina battled back from deficits in both sets to defeat Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 7-6(3), securing an unassailable 2-0 lead for her team. She was trailing 3-1 in the first set and 5-1 in the second but found her rhythm to clinch the win.
The day had started strong for Kazakhstan with Yulia Putintseva easily dispatching 18-year-old Maya Joint 6-2, 6-1 in just 74 minutes.
“Such a difficult match and I’m super happy to bring the win for the team. Yulia did a great job in her match,” Rybakina said post-match. “I played well in the first set, but the second was tough—I just kept fighting.”
Putintseva added, “It was definitely a good game for me. I love playing in Brisbane, and today everything just clicked.”
Kazakhstan now looks ahead to facing Colombia at the same venue on Friday. A win will send them to the finals in Shenzhen. Australia, meanwhile, will take on Colombia on Saturday.
This year’s Billie Jean King Cup features six groups of eight nations, following a revised format similar to the Davis Cup. Group winners advance directly to the finals, while second and third-place teams head to the November playoffs.
It’s a dream start for Kazakhstan in their title pursuit.
Match Stats: Birrell vs. Rybakina
| Statistic | Birrell | Rybakina |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 2 | 7 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 66% (43/65) | 59% (34/58) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 63% (27/43) | 82% (28/34) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 43% (10/23) | 62% (16/26) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (4/8) | 50% (3/6) |
| Service Games Won | 60% (6/10) | 73% (8/11) |
| 1st Return Points Won | 18% (6/34) | 37% (16/43) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 38% (10/26) | 57% (13/23) |
| Match Duration | 1h 28m | 1h 28m |
Next Up:
- Kazakhstan vs. Colombia – Friday
- Australia vs. Colombia – Saturday
A place in the Shenzhen finals is on the line as Kazakhstan aims to carry their momentum forward.
