The injury that Rybakina hid to win the US Open now leaves her out of the BJK Cup
The Kazakh player will not be able to represent her country in the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup due to an injury that accompanied her throughout the US Open. Today she has no choice but to stop.
Elena Rybakina has made headlines again just a few days after winning the 2026 US Open, although this time for very different reasons. The current world number 1 will miss the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup taking place in China after the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation confirmed that she needs at least two weeks of treatment and recovery due to the Achilles tendon injury she has been suffering from since Cincinnati.
The Kazakh athlete suffered this issue during the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati, where she had to withdraw before reaching the quarter-finals. However, the injury did not disappear during the US Open, regardless of the final result. Rybakina decided to continue competing in New York and ended up delivering a historic performance, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final and securing her first title in Flushing Meadows, thus becoming the new queen of the circuit.
Elena Rybakina played the US Open 2026 with painkillers
The Kazakhstan Federation itself has revealed a particularly significant detail about her participation in New York: Rybakina played the tournament's last matches taking painkillers to endure the pain caused by her injury. “According to her coaching team, Rybakina will need at least two weeks of treatment and recovery,” explains the federation's statement. This timeline makes it impossible for her to participate in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, so her immediate priority will be to recover and subsequently return to full training.
Elena Rybakina is OUT of BJK.
The Kazakh federation wrote a statement.
They said she used painkillers for USO.
She will be in Kazakhstan at Astana and Almaty for children and in same time will go under examination due to achilles injury and needs 2 weeks of treatment and rest. pic.twitter.com/ZTIvBYg31c— Sebastien G. (@sebsharfam2) September 18, 2026
Before undergoing that process, Rybakina will stay in Kazakhstan for a week, where she will visit the cities of Astana and Almaty and participate in various activities with young tennis players, offer masterclasses, and meet with fans. During her stay, she will also undergo further medical tests to assess the condition of her Achilles tendon.
Her absence represents a significant setback for Kazakhstan, especially after the historic moment its main representative is experiencing. Rybakina has won two Grand Slams this season, in addition to reaching the top of the world ranking. Now, however, it is time to take a break. After playing injured in New York and achieving one of the greatest successes of her career, Rybakina will have to go through a period of treatment and rest before returning to competition.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La lesión que Rybakina ocultó para ganar el US Open le deja ahora fuera de la BJK Cup