In a thrilling encounter at the United Cup, Kazakhstan managed to edge out Spain with a 2-1 victory in their Group C tie. The match, held at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, saw former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina play a pivotal role in securing the win for her team.
The tie began with Spain taking an early lead as Pablo Carreno Busta defeated Alexander Shevchenko 6-2, 6-1 in just 61 minutes. However, Rybakina quickly turned the tide in Kazakhstan’s favor with a dominant performance against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, winning her singles match 6-2, 6-3.
Rybakina’s powerful play and relentless backhand shots were key to Kazakhstan’s comeback. The mixed doubles match, which followed, was a nail-biting affair. Rybakina, alongside Shevchenko, faced off against Pablo Carreno Busta and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers. The match went down to the wire, with Kazakhstan clinching the victory in a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 10-7 tie-breaker.
Reflecting on the match, Shevchenko praised Rybakina, saying, “If Elena was not carrying me this match, we would lose”. Rybakina echoed the sentiment, expressing her gratitude for her teammate’s support and the team’s overall effort.
With this win, Kazakhstan now sits atop Group C, setting up an exciting clash against Greece in their next match. Spain, on the other hand, will look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
Rybakina’s performance not only showcased her exceptional talent but also highlighted the importance of teamwork and resilience in high-stakes matches. As the United Cup progresses, all eyes will be on Rybakina and her teammates as they aim to continue their impressive run.
Elena Rybakina in 2024
Now ranked no.6, Rybakina played her last match on the 27th of December when she overcame world no.54 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2 6-3 in the round robin in Australia (draw).
Currently, during this year Rybakina owns an overall 1-0 win-loss record. Rybakina has won 3 titles in 2024 in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart. The Kazakhstani was the finalist in Doha and Miami.