“I think with all these decisions a lot of players are paying the price”: Rybakina's criticism of WTA rules and controversial moments

Monday, 25 September 2023 at 20:47

Elena Rybakina criticized the WTA rule changes that prevented her from receiving a bye at the Toray Pan Pacific Open. We review other controversies with the organization.

The tournament organizers in Tokyo decided that following Maria Sakkari's title at the Guadalajara Open and Caroline Garcia's strong performance until the semifinals, they would change the seeding order, displacing Rybakina.

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Sakkari was guaranteed a bye as the fourth seed, but Garcia, who was the fifth seed, was scheduled to start her first-round match on Monday. However, she received an exception that directly affected Elena Rybakina.

"Performance bye. Thank you for changing the rules last moment. Great decisions as always @wta."

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Elena Rybakina is not happy about WTA choosing to use Performance byes in Tokyo “Thank you for changing the rules last moment. Great decisions as always WTA 🤡🎪” It’s pretty sad to see #3 seed denied of her rightful draw after all she’s accomplished & worked for this year.

10:47 PM · Sep 23, 2023

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This is not the first time that Rybakina has been in controversy with the WTA. The Kazakh tennis player spoke out in 2022 after her Wimbledon title because the restrictions imposed by Wimbledon at that time prevented her from earning the 2,000 points that typically come with winning a Grand Slam.

Despite being a Grand Slam champion, she remained at world No. 25, which forced her to play at the US Open on Court 12, one of the smaller courts in the tournament. Rybakina was not pleased with the treatment she received despite being the most recent Slam champion:

"It was my dream to win at Wimbledon. That's a shame. I feel like I'm not really the champion. I don't think that's fair. I'm not just talking about myself, but in general I think with all these decisions a lot of players are paying the price." - Elena Rybakina on her US Open court allotment.”

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Recently, Rybakina played in the Canadian Open, where she survived a marathon match lasting three hours and 27 minutes against Daria Kasatkina, with a score of 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(8). The match ended close to 3 am, and the 24-year-old athlete was upset about the scheduling of the match:

"I am destroyed guys! But thank you so much for everyone who stayed so late. It’s really amazing that you supported us," said Rybakina during her on-court interview.

"It’s the first time when the match went that long and we finished also so late. It’s the first time and hopefully the last time because I think it’s been a little bit unprofessional from the, I cannot say really the tournament because I think that the most important is the WTA here, and the leadership is a little bit weak for now," she said in her post-match press conference,” she said during press conference.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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