"The others are, to say the least, nothing and nobody": Elena Rybakina’s former coach reveals reason behind disliking Iga Swiatek

Elena Rybakina’s former coach, Andrei Chesnokov, has revealed that the only player he does not like is world number one Iga Swiatek. The 23-year-old is already regarded as the best player currently playing in women’s tennis in the singles category.

Chesnokov, who has worked with the current world number four Rybakina, while talking to We Love Tennis as quoted by Tennis 365, criticised Swiatek and highlighted why she remains the only player that he does not like. The 58-year-old also explained that he does not like the behaviour of the top reigning player in women’s tennis who according to him never appreciates her opponent.

“The only tennis player I don’t like is Iga Swiatek,” he said. “The best women’s match last season was the final in Madrid. Swiatek lost to Aryna Sabalenka and didn’t say a single kind word about the final. When she lost, everything was going wrong for her. She had a headache, she was sick. Nadal, every time he loses to Djokovic, says that Djokovic played very well and congratulates him. She never says anything. For her, there is only one person in the world. Her. The others are, to say the least, nothing and nobody.”

Swiatek is currently in New York, where she is set to take part in the US Open 2024. The fourth and final Grand Slam of the year finally began on Monday, where players from all over the world will participate to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize. The Warsaw-born star will face Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova in the opening round of the competition on Tuesday. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two in professional tennis. Swiatek has an impressive record at the US Open, where she has already lifted the title once, which was back in 2022, when she defeated Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 7-6.