When Elena Rybakina stepped onto the stage to collect her trophy on Saturday night, she thanked the usual figures—her opponent, her coaching team, her sponsors, and Tennis Australia. However, she singled out a particular man in the crowd, having moments earlier reached into the stand to share her victorious moment with him after sealing her maiden Australian Open win with a 183 km/h ace.
“I want to say thank you to my sponsors and also the president of our tennis federation, Bulat Utemuratov,” the softly spoken Rybakina said during the presentation. “Thank you for always coming and supporting us. Today we had a few other matches with Kazakhstan players, and I’m really proud. And yeah, hopefully, we can continue doing a great job.”
The Man Behind the Triumph
Bulat Utemuratov is a diplomat, industrialist, and long-serving president of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation who has invested heavily in Rybakina’s tennis career. He is worth about $US3.7 billion, according to Forbes. The New York Times reported in 2022 that Utemuratov had made it his mission to transform tennis in his nation of 20 million people from a sport for the elite into one that is accessible to all. The Kazakhstan Tennis Federation spent about $US200 million—mostly his money—on facilities and recruited young pros from Russia, promising to fund their careers, according to the Times.
Kazakhstan became an independent country in the early 1990s, separating from the former Soviet Union. Over the past few years, Utemuratov has spearheaded a campaign to recruit more Russian players to compete under the Kazakh flag. Other Russian-born players, including Alexander Bublik, Mikhael Kukushkin, and Andrey Golubev, have also made the switch to Kazakhstan.
From Russia to Kazakhstan: A Strategic Shift
Born in Moscow, Rybakina represented Russia early in her career as a teenager but made the switch to Kazakhstan in 2018 when she was 19. In 2020, she told journalists that financial difficulties made pursuing her sporting career challenging, and she changed her citizenship to Kazakhstan because “they believed in me.”
On Sunday morning, Rybakina reiterated her praise for the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation and expressed her pride in representing the former Soviet nation. “It’s been a long time, and it was a tough decision and an important decision because I was junior and I had to really decide what way I take,” she said. “I’m really glad Kazakhstan believed in me and supported me, so it means a lot to me to represent Kazakhstan, and looking over the years how much tennis grew and how many kids are playing now especially after my win at Wimbledon.”
“This win definitely is going to bring even more kids hopefully to want to play tennis.”
A Unique Champion
Rybakina knows she’s not like other players. The 26-year-old did a simple fist pump and walked over to the net with a tiny ghost of a smile after defeating world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka to win her second grand slam. “I’m not as expressive as other players,” she said. “I’m not screaming or falling on the ground, but I was super happy even though maybe my facial expression was not that big.”
Rybakina walked along the Yarra River in a fire engine red dress with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in her arms on Sunday morning, beaming after defeating Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. “You’ll have to give me some poses to do,” she called to the waiting media pack and photographers, as onlookers in kayaks and boats waved and congratulated her.
After three hours’ sleep, Rybakina politely declined a reporter’s request to recreate Jim Courier’s famous dive into the Yarra River. “It’s been a long night, but I got the chance to speak with my family, which I’m super happy [about] and just a little bit of celebration with the team,” she said.
The Future of Kazakh Tennis
The announcement comes as Kazakhstan continues to make strides in the world of tennis, largely due to Utemuratov’s investments and strategic player recruitment. The country’s efforts to nurture homegrown talent and attract international players are beginning to pay off, with Rybakina’s triumph serving as a beacon of success.
As Kazakhstan’s tennis infrastructure develops, the nation could see more young athletes inspired by Rybakina’s achievements. The move represents not just a personal victory for Rybakina but a significant step forward for Kazakhstan on the international tennis stage.
Looking ahead, the focus will likely remain on expanding access to tennis across Kazakhstan, ensuring that the sport is not just a fleeting success but a sustained national pastime. With Utemuratov’s support and Rybakina’s continued success, the future of Kazakh tennis appears promising.
