Astana or Almaty? Rybakina shares her thoughts on returning to Kazakhstan and reveals her favorite city.

The top-ranked tennis player of Kazakhstan (No. 5) shared her thoughts in an exclusive interview with a correspondent on the YouTube channel about her long-awaited return to the national team. She also reminisced about her recent trip to Almaty and compared the main cities of the country.

Elena Rybakina Vesti.kz SauBall Billie Jean King Cup - Elena, great to see you! Welcome to Astana! What emotions and feelings did you bring with you? I believe you must have missed the snowy weather.

- Hello! Thank you! Yes, indeed, I didn’t expect it to be so cold, but overall, I’m happy to see the snow since I rarely experience such weather, and in a week, I’ll be heading back to a warmer place.

- Ahead of you is an important playoff round match of the Billie Jean King Cup against South Korea. You haven’t played for the national team since April last year, but now you’re back, and once again in Astana. Have you met with the team? What were your emotions upon arriving at the team’s location? This is quite a different environment.

- Yes, of course. Playing at home is always the best option. Especially when you have such support from the fans. I saw some of the girls recently, and some I haven’t seen in a long time. I’m glad to see the whole team together, and competing at home brings joy. I just want to show a good game and enjoy this atmosphere.

- Unfortunately, you don’t visit Kazakhstan very often, primarily due to your busy schedule. But in October, you shared a post on social media from Almaty, which delighted and surprised your compatriots. What was the reason for that visit?

- Yes, I had a break due to an injury, so I couldn’t train much. That’s why I flew to Almaty; I needed to take care of some matters, and I managed to relax and enjoyed some really nice weather, which I was truly happy about. It’s very beautiful! We went to the mountains, and I also rested in the city. It’s really rare for me to come and spend time like this. Of course, there are significant downsides when you get injured and have to take a forced break. But in any case, I spent my time in Almaty very well.

- You have been to both Almaty and Astana multiple times. What do you like about the main cities of our country?

- The cities are very different, and the weather conditions too (smiles). I personally prefer Almaty in this respect, along with the nature of that city. I think it’s all about the combination of how I feel and the attitude of the people around me, along with some warm memories. So, all of this together creates feelings when you come to Kazakhstan and have time to relax. And if you are competing, you understand that a large number of people will surround you, and they will all support you, which is always pleasant.

You can watch the full interview with the world’s fifth-ranked player, champion, and athlete here:

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Reminder: The matches between the national teams of Kazakhstan and South Korea in the playoff round of the Billie Jean King Cup will take place on Saturday and Sunday, November 16-17, at the Beeline Arena in the capital.