Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the 2025 Stuttgart Open, choosing instead to represent Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers—a decision that will see her fall out of the WTA top 10 for the first time in over two years.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, won the Stuttgart title last year with a standout run, defeating then-world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals before overcoming Marta Kostyuk in the final. However, she won’t return to defend her title due to a scheduling clash with international duty.
Prioritizing Country Over Ranking
Rather than making the long trip from Australia to Europe to compete in Stuttgart, Rybakina opted to stay in Brisbane where she helped Kazakhstan defeat Australia and Colombia in Group D action at the Pat Rafter Arena, winning both of her singles matches.
“The schedule is really packed,” Rybakina explained. “It’s not easy to even fit the Billie Jean King Cup into the calendar. Ideally, when we go to one part of the world, we’d stay and compete there. Now, clay season has started and some players have already transitioned, so going back to play on hard courts is tricky.”
With Kazakhstan’s win, they’ve secured a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which will take place in Shenzhen, China this September.
Rankings Impact
By skipping Stuttgart, Rybakina forfeits the 500 ranking points she earned there in 2024. As a result, she slips from No. 10 to No. 11 in the live WTA rankings, ending her top-10 streak that began in January 2023, when she rose from No. 21 after reaching the Australian Open final.
“I can’t play every tournament,” she said. “Stuttgart is great, but I love team competitions. It’s always special to play for your country, and I’m happy with my decision. I’m also excited to be going to the finals in Shenzhen.”
What’s Next for Rybakina?
The 25-year-old is scheduled to compete next at two major clay-court events: the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, before heading to Roland Garros for the French Open.
