French Open: Move Aside Danielle Collins, Elena Rybakina Might Just Have Stolen Your Thunder With Her Sass

The French Open has had a history of player outbursts during press conferences. Take the example of Naomi Osaka back in 2021. Following her first-round clash, she appeared in a post-match press conference in which the Japanese player had an emotional breakdown. Subsequently, Osaka withdrew from the tournament and took a break from the sport. Fast forward to 2024, things don’t seem to have improved much as the likes of Danielle Collins and  Elena Rybakina caught frustrated looks during their interviews at Roland Garros.

While Collins managed to dodge the questions with cheeky responses, Rybakina wasn’t happy with the kind of questions being thrown at her by the journalists. Following her first-round win, Rybakina was asked how she was feeling this year after withdrawing from the tournament midway last year due to Covid. However, Rybakina had answered a similar question before and she pointed out this to the journalists.

She said, “No, it didn’t affect in any way. I mean, I know how to play in different conditions. I mean, for sure physically I’m much better than last year since I had to withdraw. I had Covid, so of course, now I’m much better. The questions are quite the same, so I don’t know what to say anymore.”

Further, the Kazakhstani star was also quizzed about what it will take to win the French Open trophy this year to which she replied, “It’s quite basic. You need to work hard, do all the things usually you don’t want to do. Simple question; simple answers. So, guys, something else?” 

Midway through the interview, Rybakina had a frustrated look after answering similar questions multiple times. As a result, she made her feelings felt to the journalists with direct responses. However, Rybakina isn’t the only one in the recent past who has been frustrated by the journalists. Even Danielle Collins hit out at them with a cheeky response.

Danielle Collins silences an interviewer with a blunt admission

Like Rybakina, Collins also had an easy straight-set victory in the first round of the 2024 French Open. Subsequently, during an interview, she was asked about her decision to participate in the Strasbourg a week before the French Open. Frustrated with the kind of question, Collins hit out at the interviewer with a cheeky response.

She said, “I just kind of felt like that was going to be the best practice for me. So it was like a no-brainer. I was like, all right. I thought about not going for a second. Then I was like, get into it you’re gonna get bored, get into it. I got to say too, I got to keep it real here. I got bills to pay, all right? I got bills to pay and practice weeks.”

Despite putting on frustrated looks during their interviews, both Rybakina and Collins would be happy with their on-court performances in the first round here. Can they dig deep in the French Open amid this interview controversy? Let us know your views in the comments below.