French Open: Elena Rybakina’s Unwarranted Anger Turns Costly as Media Shuns Her in Repeat of Naomi Osaka’s 2021 Controversy

Elena Rybakina‘s interactions with the press at the Roland Garros do not seem to align with her performance. The Kazakh recently secured a position in the third round by defeating Arantxa Rus, her opponent from the Netherlands. While Rybakina’s performance was regarded with loud applause from the French crowd, the press didn’t seem to provide enough value to her massive win.

It is customary for the press to approach the tennis stars for in-depth conversations after they secure notable wins at Roland Garros. While it all depends on the press’ demand, the media personnel didn’t find it necessary to indulge in a conversation with the victor, and therefore, treated her with a notable snub.

This situation of disagreement with the press emerged after Elena Rybakina’s unexpected responses after her first win. While general questions concerning her health and the frequency of falling sick were asked, she presented what some called rude responses in exchange. “Simple question; simple answers,” she said, indirectly ignoring the queries.

The press, which is known to have a power of its own, decided to serve her back with a similar answer, in the form of presenting her with a Naomi Osaka-like treatment.

Looking back to the year 2021, Naomi Osaka seemed to be struggling with her grip on the red dirt. While it was obvious for the press to approach her with queries regarding the setbacks, she denied being a part of press conferences. This didn’t just end with ignorance but led to a rather drastic fate. Osaka, who already found her claws stuck under the intensity of the competitive clay, had to end her run with a withdrawal, establishing the story as an example for years to come.

While the Rybakina situation seems to be under the covers so far, the fate of this controversy is yet to be determined.

Elena Rybakina unveiling her harsh side against the press

Elena Rybakina’s opening-match victory over Greet Minnen invited the attention of the media as well as the fans. On being approached with a questionnaire about candid topics, she pretended to be bored, tackling the interrogation throughout.

A member of the press stood up to demand a description of her Yonex kit. Appearing to be barely interested in giving an answer, she said, “These colours I didn’t choose. It was the brand who chose for me, so some other questions?”

Another media representative tried to switch the topic by enquiring about her first showdown against Aryna Sabalenka. Possessing the same mood, she responded, “I think no one will remember everything that happened five, six years ago.” 

Rybakina continued to deal with every other query with ignorance. While the media came up with a similar response, it is evident that her rude responses backfired.