Elena Rybakina's solid performances for Team Kazakhstan in the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup qualifying round did not stop fans from worrying about her health.
Rybakina chose to travel to Australia for Team Kazakhstan's ties against the host nation and Colombia. The awkward logistics of going to Australia during the season did not stop her from participating.
That decision helped Team Kazakhstan to win both ties. Rybakina overcame Australia's Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 7-6 without being at her very best. Kazakhstan won the tie 2-1, with Yulia Putintseva triumphing in the other singles match.
The triumph against Colombia was even more comprehensive. Rybakina dropped just three games against Yuliana Lizarazo during Team Kazakhstan's 3-0 victory, which sealed a place in September's finals in Shenzhen, China.
Despite Rybakina doing her job on the court, she did not look entirely well. Many fans watching noticed the rashes on the 2022 Wimbledon champion's face and neck while she played.
They were particularly visible during her press conferences at the team event. Rybakina's face was much redder than usual, and spots spread downwards to create the concerns some have.
Hopefully, it is nothing too severe. Australia's climate can lead to allergies in many people, and she might feel more comfortable after flying to Europe to prepare for the upcoming 2025 Madrid Open.
However, Rybakina spoke openly about having issues with her immune system last year. She was away from the sport for over two months between the 2024 US Open and the 2024 WTA Finals and admitted to insomnia and other problems.
Rybakina also missed the 2024 Olympics because of acute bronchitis, which led to her apologizing to the disappointed Kazakhstani fans. She returned for a few tournaments in North America before being ruled out again until the WTA Finals.
Many worry that stress is one reason for her weakened immune system. Rybakina stopped working with Stefano Vukov, her coach of more than five years, a few days before last year's US Open.
After Rybakina withdrew from the US Open before her second round and spent over two months on the sidelines, rumors persisted that the split from Vukov was the cause. It remains unclear how much of a role it played in her absence.
The situation with Vukov has been in the headlines many times since Rybakina announced on New Year's Day her intention to add him to her team again. This led to the WTA revealing that the Croatian was under investigation on suspicion of mistreating Rybakina.
Although the former world No. 3 has repeatedly insisted Vukov never mistreated her, the WTA's investigation reached the opposite conclusion, and her former coach remains suspended from the professional circuit.
That has not stopped Rybakina from working with Vukov whenever possible. He was included in a team photo posted by the Kazakhstani's physiotherapist, Stefan Duell, before traveling to Australia for the Billie Jean King Cup.
Goran Ivanisevic, who briefly coached Rybakina until the end of the 2025 Australian Open, admitted the strange situation with Vukov led to their split. Rybakina's newfound health worries in Australia have made some fans anxious about the effect of Vukov continuing to be in her life.
