“She’s not the nicest person on tour”: Diane Parry names WTA star who refused to lend her strings

Wednesday, 02 September 2026 at 08:30

Diane Parry has named the WTA star who refused to lend her strings during her title run in Monterrey, with the Frenchwoman making a remarkably blunt assessment of her fellow professional after continuing her winning streak at the US Open.

Parry had already enjoyed an extraordinary week in Mexico, arriving at the Monterrey Open at short notice with only three rackets in her luggage. She went on to win the biggest title of her career despite the equipment problems, and the story took another turn when her coach Julie Coin told L’Équipe that a player had refused to help Parry when she needed strings.

After beating Viktorija Golubic 7-5, 6-4 in the first round of the US Open on Monday, Parry was finally ready to reveal the identity of that player. And her answer was not particularly diplomatic.

“I can say it now, there’s no surprise, it’s Alycia Parks. She’s not the nicest person on tour, so I don’t mind saying it,” Parry said, according to L’Équipe.

Parry and Parks were both in Monterrey

The timing makes the story particularly intriguing. Parks was also competing at the Monterrey Open and enjoyed a strong run herself, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Ann Li.

That defeat meant Parks missed the chance to face Parry in the semifinals, while Parry continued her run to the title. The Frenchwoman defeated Donna Vekic, Clara Tauson and Li on her way to the final before overcoming second seed Elise Mertens 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 to claim her maiden WTA 500 title.

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Parks then travelled quickly to New York for the US Open, but her tournament ended in the opening round. The American lost 6-3, 6-3 to Australia's Taylah Preston on Sunday.

There will therefore be no immediate on-court meeting between the two players in New York. Parry has never faced Parks on the WTA Tour, and their paths will not cross in this year's US Open.

Parry closing in on the Top 30

While Parks sits at No. 70 in the live rankings, Parry's remarkable run has taken her considerably higher.

Her victory over Golubic moved the Frenchwoman to No. 29 in the live rankings, putting her on course to break into the Top 30 for the first time in her career. She began the week at No. 31, but could not enter the US Open as a seed because the tournament's seeding was determined from the rankings one week earlier.

Parry has now won six matches in a row, with the streak beginning during her title-winning run in Monterrey. She is also guaranteed another opportunity to extend it in New York after setting up a second-round clash with 16th seed Sorana Cîrstea.

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The Frenchwoman's sudden rise has therefore produced an unusual combination of storylines: a maiden WTA 500 title, a breakthrough ranking position and a Grand Slam run, all within the space of just over a week.

And amid all of that, Parry has now put a name to the player who declined to help her when she needed strings in Monterrey: Alycia Parks.

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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