"I don't think it looks good for the World Number One not to have a bye": Rybakina explains resentment of introducing performance byes
WTATuesday, 03 October 2023 at 00:30
Kazakhstan’s tennis star Elena Rybakina has stated that she
does not agree with the usage of the performance byes system for the main draw of
any competition.
The newly introduced system was used during the Tokyo Open
where players, despite their lower seedings, were given a spot in the second
round because of their recent performances.
One of the players who suffered because of that was Rybakina,
who despite seeding third, was forced to play in the first round. However, she
ended up withdrawing because of illness.
The Moscow-born was recently quoted in a report where she
stated that with the use of performance byes, there might be a case where the
world number one will be forced to play in the first round of a WTA event just
because of her recent outing.
“In Tokyo I was not happy,” she said. “They did not inform
me about the performance bye. What was written on the information sheet &
everywhere is that in Tokyo there would be between four and six performance
byes, what she did not explain was whether they would add two additional byes
or remove one.
“Here the rule is a little different & it was explained
a little better. I don't think it would be good to put this rule only at the
end of the season because we had a lot of events like this. I don't think it
looks good for the world number one not to have a bye.
“This is something to discuss with the players & see how
it is going to be the rule in the future because it has not been fulfilled for
four years. That is why many players, especially young players, did not know
it. It is not that difficult to explain how it is going to work, that is why
many players are not happy.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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