Elena Rybakina ‘plans to play WTA Finals’ as health update is issued…

Rybakina has also been the centre of unwanted media attention surrounding her split from long-term coach Stefano Vukov, who left her team shortly before action in New York.

However, despite not playing for almost two months, the former Wimbledon champion is reportedly hoping to return to court towards the end of 2024.

In quotes reported by KTF KZ, Kazakh national team captain Yuri Schukin revealed that Rybakina plans to play at the WTA Finals, and for Kazakhstan in their Billie Jean King Cup tie versus South Korea.

“Currently, our athletes are preparing to perform against the Korean team,” said Schukin.

“Elena Rybakina, Zarina Diyas, Yulia Putintseva, Anna Dalinina, and Zhibek Kulambayeva have been declared members of the national team.

World No 5 Rybakina has not played since withdrawing from her second round match at the US Open back in August, withdrawing from the entirety of the Asian swing due to a lower back injury.

Despite winning three titles and reaching two more finals in the first half of 2024, the 25-year-old’s season has been ravaged by illness and injury, with over 10 tournament withdrawals.

“The leader of our team, Elena Rybakina, plans to play at the WTA Finals tournament [sic] by the end of this playing season, where she qualified due to her successful results at the beginning of the year.

“Now Elena feels well, and if she manages to show a confident game in Riyadh, she is determined to play in the matches against the Korean team.”

The WTA Finals are set to take place in Riyadh from November 2-9, while Kazakhstan’s BJK Cup tie against South Korea in Astana will be held across November 15-16.

Rybakina has qualified for the year-end championships for the second time in her career, having made her maiden appearance at the Finals in 2023.

Her year has been highlighted by winning three WTA 500-level titles in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, and Stuttgart, while she was the runner-up at WTA 1000 events in Doha and Miami.

She was also a semi-finalist at Wimbledon and a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, though was beaten in the second round of the Australian Open and withdrew after just one match in New York.