Elena Rybakina has come under fire from tennis legend Pam Shriver for refusing to take a photo with a WTA official. The Kazakhstani player clinched a significant victory at the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, defeating world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to claim a £4 million prize, marking her most important win since the 2022 Wimbledon championship.
After winning the tournament, it is customary for the champion to pose with WTA CEO Portia Archer. However, Rybakina chose not to stand alongside Archer during the trophy ceremony, which created an uncomfortable moment. This gesture was seen as a protest against the ban imposed on her coach, Stefano Vukov, for breaching the WTA’s code of conduct. Vukov had been suspended for a year earlier in the year but successfully appealed the decision in August, allowing him to resume his coaching duties.
Rybakina expressed her satisfaction at having Vukov back as her coach, emphasizing that they had never encountered any issues or mistreatment. Despite the controversy, she remained silent on her decision not to pose with Archer but criticized the WTA for inadequate communication regarding the Vukov matter.
In response to the incident, Pam Shriver criticized Rybakina’s actions on social media, highlighting the disparity between her prize money earnings and the struggles faced by the Original Nine, a group of female players who broke away from the tennis establishment in 1970. Shriver expressed disappointment that Rybakina had resumed her partnership with Vukov and called for the tennis community to address issues of abuse and manipulation.
Rybakina, at her winners’ press conference, focused on her remarkable journey to victory, remarking on the tough competition she faced. On the other side, Aryna Sabalenka, despite a successful season with wins at the US Open and runner-up finishes at the Australian Open and French Open, was emotional in defeat, acknowledging Rybakina’s superior performance in the Finals.
