After more than two years among the elite, Elena Rybakina is set to drop out of the WTA Top 10 on April 21, 2025. Her fall from the upper ranks isn’t due to a dip in form or injury, but rather a bold scheduling choice that’s sparked debate in the tennis world.
Rybakina, who has been one of the WTA Tour’s most consistent and underrated performers, first broke into the Top 10 on January 30, 2023, following her run to the Australian Open final. This came months after her Wimbledon 2022 victory, which, due to the tournament’s decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian players, awarded no ranking points—denying her a deserved leap up the rankings.
Since then, she’s held onto a Top 10 spot for 116 weeks straight. But now, that impressive streak is coming to an end. The reason? She chose not to defend her title at the WTA 500 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, forfeiting the 500 points she earned there last year.
Instead, Rybakina traveled across the globe to represent Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers. While many top players, including Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula, opted out due to scheduling conflicts, Rybakina made the long trip to Australia to help her country top Group D. She secured wins against Kimberly Birrell and Yuliana Lizarazo, playing a vital role in Kazakhstan’s qualification for the 2025 finals.
However, this patriotic decision comes at a personal cost. With those 500 points gone, Rybakina’s total will drop to 3,308—allowing Emma Navarro, who has at least 3,797 points, to overtake her in the rankings. Even had Rybakina played in Stuttgart, Navarro’s rise seemed imminent, sitting just 11 points behind in the latest rankings.
Now outside the Top 10, Rybakina faces the challenge of potentially meeting top-seeded players like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek much earlier in tournaments, which could make her path back to the top even tougher.
Still, her decision to represent her country shows a different kind of strength—one that values legacy over convenience. With the Madrid Open up next, Rybakina has a chance to bounce back and begin a new climb toward the top.
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