Kazakhstan’s decision to support players from outside the country, including Elena Rybakina and Alexander Bublik, has proven to be a successful investment that has helped put tennis on the map and inspired a new generation of players, believes Zhibek Kulambayeva. Kulambayeva, a regular visitor to India for tournaments who is currently competing at the Chennai Open, believes their success has helped create a stronger tennis culture back home, even if players from her generation have not necessarily felt a direct impact. Rybakina, who became the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach the world No.1 ranking in September, and Bublik, a former top-10 player, have emerged as the country’s biggest tennis stars despite being born in Russia.
I won, but it was a very close match. “I think it is a good idea. Rybakina’s rise has been historic. “I didn’t really know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Because they are completely different from my generation, “It’s tough to say. Because for sure they have more motivation,” Kulambayeva said in an interview with PTI, but mostly for the kids,. Because there weren’t many top Kazakh players, and they had to put tennis on the map in Kazakhstan, especially in the beginning of building the federation in Kazakhstan, it was necessary. Because her parents wanted her to play a sport, Kulambayeva said the game has become a major part of her identity and taught her the value of perseverance, having taken up tennis.
She won the 2026 US Open and became the first player representing Kazakhstan to finish a season as world No. 1.
It was a good investment,” she said. It could have gone either way,” she said. Kulambayeva said experience has made her more realistic when setting goals While she has not given up on her childhood dream of reaching the very top.
“Especially with Yulia Putintseva. She’s been a top player for such a long time. And with Rybakina, she’s world No. So it was a really good investment. Same with Bublik.”
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