Newly crowned world number one Elena Rybakina will miss the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for Kazakhstan, the U.S. Open champion said on Friday, citing the physical demands of a busy month.
The 27-year-old defeated two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in last weekend’s U.S. Open final to win her third Grand Slam title and rise to the top of the rankings.
An ankle injury had threatened to disrupt Rybakina’s campaign before the tournament, but she recovered to claim the U.S. Open title, adding to her Australian Open crown from earlier this year and her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.
“I have to announce that I won’t be able to participate in Billie Jean King Cup this year,” Rybakina wrote on Instagram.
“I am very sad to miss Shenzhen, such a nice place with an amazing crowd. Last month has been tough for my body and I will need to recover and be at my best to compete again. I wish the girls good luck.”
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will take place in Shenzhen, China, from Sept. 22-27, with Kazakhstan facing Spain in the quarter-finals on Sept. 23.
Italy are the two-time defending champions.
