Rybakina: "Playing for Kazakhstan is a real privilege"
Featured on Caroline Garcia's podcast, Elena Rybakina answered various questions, including one about playing under the Kazakhstani flag.
Born in Moscow, Rybakina chose to be naturalized in 2018 when she was still far from the Top 100. She says she is proud to represent this country of around 20 million people:
"I feel like tennis isn’t very popular in Kazakhstan. After winning Wimbledon, I remember everyone talking about that achievement.
When I went back there, many kids came to see me. And after some time, I learned that a lot of children started playing tennis, according to the federation’s numbers.
I get a lot of support throughout the year, no matter where I am. You always see Kazakhstani flags. During my first Olympics, I finished 4th. But in every match I played, there was tremendous support.
It’s a real privilege, and it’s incredible to feel that kind of support."
