Chris Evert makes her feelings known on Elena Rybakina and Simona Halep's practice session in Dubai ahead of their respective WTA Tour comebacks
Elena Rybakina and Simona Halep recently trained together ahead of the Kazakh's comeback at the 2024 WTA Finals and Halep's return at the Hong Kong Open. Their practice session caught the attention of Chris Evert, who expressed her delight at seeing both players back on the court.
Rybakina has been sidelined since her withdrawal from the US Open due to a lower back injury. Although her injury-riddled season forced her to pull out from several major events, the Kazakh still clinched three titles in 2024 and secured her qualification for the year-end championships, scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2.
After missing the entire Asian swing, the World No. 5 has intensified her training in Dubai ahead of the WTA Finals. Elena Rybakina recently hit the court with Simona Halep, sharing a glimpse of their "great practice" on social media.
Halep also benefited from the joint session as she gears up to compete at the Hong Kong Open, her first tour-level event since making her comeback from her doping suspension at the Miami Open earlier this year. The former World No. 1 will face Yue Yuan in her opening match at the WTA 250 event.
As the clip of their practice session drummed up excitement on social media, Chris Evert also expressed her delight at witnessing Elena Rybakina and Simona Halep back in action.
"Great these two are back👍🙏," Evert posted on X.
Chris Evert sent a supportive message to Elena Rybakina after shocking claims about her ex-coach Stefano Vukov surfaced
Chris Evert's enthusiasm for Elena Rybakina's return to the court is unsurprising since the American legend previously offered an encouraging message of support to Rybakina after tennis journalist Sonya Tartakova made alarming claims about her relationship with ex-coach Stefano Vukov.
Speaking in an interview on the YouTube channel 'Tennis Bolshei,' Tartakova disclosed that Vukov did not have the "correct" attitude towards World No. 5, often subjecting her to "insults and bad words." She further revealed that the Kazakh's parents eventually had to intervene and end the "vicious cycle" between them.
"I don't want to say big words, not quite the correct attitude of her mentor towards her. That is, he "ate" her all the time, as people who surrounded Lena say," Tartakova said.
"On the other hand, it is clear that they were very close, she won the main achievements of her career thanks to their joint work, and her parents insisted that Lena change something in her tennis life, because there was pressure, and insults, and bad words said to her. They were constantly from Vukov's lips," she added.
As these allegations garnered attention, Chris Evert extended her support to Rybakina and wished for the 25-year-old to make a "healthy and happy" comeback to the tour.
"Wishing Elena the best and hoping she comes back healthy and happy," Evert posted on X.
Elena Rybakina will be on the hunt for her maiden WTA Finals title during her campaign in Riyadh, facing formidable competition from the likes of World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, defending champion Iga Swiatek and World No. 3 Coco Gauff.