Since 2007, Kazakhstan has invested more than $200 million in tennis, expanding tennis infrastructure nationwide and developing professional academies.
asserted
Kazakhstan → invest → academies
Today, nearly 45,000 people play the sport and the country has produced its first world No. 1, Elena Rybakina.
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country → play → .
Elena Rybakina has made history for Kazakhstan by becoming the world No. 1 in women’s tennis after defeating Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open.
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Rybakina → make → Open
This year, she won both hard court Grand Slam titles.
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she → win → titles
Her achievement marks a new chapter for Kazakhstan, a country not traditionally known as a tennis nation.
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achievement → mark → nation
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Rybakina, saying her success can help nurture a new generation of tennis players in Kazakhstan.
"It's history, and I'm very proud representing Kazakhstan.
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I → congratulate → Kazakhstan
Every time I come back to Kazakhstan, no matter which city I go, it's always so many kids," Rybakina said at a press conference in New York.
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Rybakina → come → York
"We are competing against countries where tennis has been prospering for more than 100 years and they have more than 40,000 courts," added Dias Doskarayev, Vice President of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation.
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Doskarayev → compete → Federation
Yet in Central Asia, Kazakhstan has emerged as a clear leader in the sport.
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Kazakhstan → emerge → sport
Over the past two decades, the country has transformed its tennis landscape by expanding infrastructure, developing professional academies, nurturing new talent and attracting international tournaments.
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country → transform → tournaments
"Just an example, Germany has more than 50,000 courts.
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Germany → have → courts
Even Japan has more than 40,000 courts, while we have only 400 and our population is smaller.
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population → have → 400
That is why we have to work on quality," Doskarayev added.
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Doskarayev → have → quality
According to the KTF, investment in tennis has totalled $200 million since 2007.
uncertain
investment → accord → 2007
"We had only 55 courts in 2007, mainly in Almaty and around 500 players in total across Almaty, Astana, Karaganda and Shymkent," Doskarayev said.
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Doskarayev → have → Almaty
Today, the number of players has grown to around 45,000.
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number → grow → 45,000
The federation says tennis has also become more affordable.
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tennis → say → ?
"The stereotype that tennis is a rich man's sport no longer exists.
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tennis → exist → ?
For example, in 2007 and 2008, renting a court cost around $100 per hour.
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renting → rent → hour
Today, the monthly training fee for children is around $50," Doskarayev said.
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Doskarayev → say → children
At the highest level, Kazakhstan is represented by players including Alexander Bublik, Yulia Putintseva and Anna Danilina.
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Kazakhstan → represent → Bublik
The next generation takes the court
Tennis is gaining popularity among a new generation of Kazakh children.
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Tennis → take → children
More and more parents are choosing to put their kids on the court.
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parents → choose → court
"We are also working with children's programmes in kindergartens.
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We → work → kindergartens
Now we have more than 145 kindergartens that we partner with," said Dias Doskarayev, Vice President of Kazakhstan’s Tennis Federation.
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Doskarayev → have → Federation
"We are giving equipment to the kindergartens, certifying the instructors and making sure that the kids get involved in tennis.
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kids → give → tennis
The country has also developed professional academies to prepare the next generation of players.
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country → develop → players
One of them is Team Qazaqstan, a sports school focused on developing the country's tennis reserve.
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One → focus → reserve
"The academy was established in 2008.
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academy → establish → 2008
It was the idea of Bulat Utemuratov, the president of KTF, who wanted to bring all the talented players together in one place," the Tennis Federation explained.
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Federation → want → place
Young players are selected by a commission of around seven specialists in tennis, psychology and fitness.
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players → select → tennis
The commission travels across Kazakhstan, watching children compete in tournaments and observing them during training.
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children → travel → training
The academy has partnered with institutions including the Gorin Tennis Academy in Northern California and the Sergio Bruguera Academy.
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academy → partner → California
It is also working with renowned coach Riccardo Piatti in Bordighera, who is known for his work with Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner.
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who → work → Djokovic
The federation says the number of ranked players is growing, while more Kazakh juniors are reaching higher-level international competitions.
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juniors → say → competitions
Two Kazakh players have reached the world junior top 10.
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players → reach → top
One of them reached the semi-finals of the US Open junior tournament last year and again this year.
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One → reach → tournament
At the Australian Open, Amir Omarkhanov finished in the top five of the world junior rankings and reached the quarter-finals.
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Omarkhanov → finish → finals
Bringing international tournaments to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan hosts around 250 tournaments every year, including more than 50 international competitions.
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Kazakhstan → bring → competitions
These include ITF tournaments, ATP Challenger events, Tennis Europe competitions and Asian Tennis Federation events.
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These → include → tournaments
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
