Rybakina’s first coach believes FTR should not be blamed for tennis player’s departure from Russia

The Russian Tennis Federation (FTR) is not responsible for the fact that Elena Rybakina changed her sports citizenship, the athlete is grateful to Russia and Kazakhstan, which allowed her to succeed, she said on the air of the program “There is a theme!” on “” the first tennis coach Evgenia Kulikovskaya.

A native of Moscow in the final of Wimbledon 2022 beat Ons Jaber of Tunisia. Rybakina played for Russia until 2018.

– Lena should be allowed to play and left alone. For seven years this was our job, the school created the conditions, we studied a lot with it. At the age of 18, Kazakhstan helped her, and it is completely wrong to blame the FTR here. There were other players who were higher than her in the rankings. You had to say we wouldn’t give you funding, but we’re going to give Elena?

Thanks again to Kazakhstan for giving him the opportunity to play. Thanks to Shamil Anvyarovich (Tarpishchev, head of the FTR – ed.), who did not put a spoke in the wheels, but acted honestly. It does not say that knowledge does not know us. She is grateful to Russia and Kazakhstan,” said Kulikovskaya, who worked with Rybakina from age 11 to 18 at a sports school in Moscow.

Earlier, “” host Alexei Mikhailov said that Rybakina’s father, Andrey, repeatedly thought about how to refuse additional support for his tennis lessons.

– The only thing that had to be convinced of them is that they devote more time to tennis, and not to school. To create the conditions, you had to skip (school lessons). My dad always believed in her. He wrote after the tournament: “I remember you said the grass is Lena’s blanket. Your words are prophetic.” There was no such thing as parents doubted, dad did everything to help Lena, ”Kulikovskaya added.