"Safe to say Elena Rybakina will not be put on an outside court any time in the future" - Tennis fans react to Kazakh reaching Australian Open final
Tennis fans were once again left impressed by Elena Rybakina's performance at the 2023 Australian Open.
The reigning Wimbledon champion defeated two-time Aussie Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals 7-6(4), 6-3 in straight sets to move into her maiden Grand Slam final in Melbourne.
During her triumph at Wimbledon, Rybakina was constantly asked questions regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, which diluted her achievement at SW19 and shifted the focus to her Russian heritage instead.
Her treatment at the hands of journalists did not sit well with her fans and after her win against Azarenka, they took to social media to demand that the tennis world do the right thing at the Australian Open at least -- focus on her tennis.
"Elena Rybakina will play for a second Slam title, and tennis gets a second chance to give her the respect she should have gotten the first time," said a fan.
Elena Rybakina will play for a second slam title, and tennis gets a second chance to give her the respect she should have gotten the first time.
"Safe to say that Elena Rybakina, finalist at two of the last three Slams, will not be put on an outside court any time in the near future. What a way to prove that you belong to the big stage! She is really quite a boss," said another fan.
Safe to say that Elena Rybakina, finalist at two of the last three Slams, will not be put on an outside court any time in the near future. What a way to prove that you belong to the big stage! She is really quite a boss.
Another fan pointed out that Rybakina suffered from the lack of points at Wimbledon and that her world ranking has led to her getting under the radar and being underrated as a result, writing:
"It’s a disgrace that Rybakina is ranked 22 largely due to the Wimbledon points issue. She is clearly a top 3 player - a world class serve, powerful & deep ground strokes, good at the net too, likes to finish points early but doesn’t rush to finish them like Sabalenka."
It’s a disgrace that Rybakina is ranked 22 largely due to the Wimbledon points issue. She is clearly a top 3 player - a world class serve, powerful & deep ground strokes, good at the net too, likes to finish points early but doesn’t rush to finish them like Sabalenka.
Here are some more reactions:
Rybakina likely to make long awaited - well deserved - top-10 debut after AO. Top-10 players will be happy at Wimbledon to see that, don't want her floating in with a [22] by her name.
captain obvious here: this new GS final from Rybakina in just her 2nd Major after winning Wimbledon is what she needed. big statement after the mess that went on around her during that journey
hopefully we should be able to talk about her tennis now
Feels like this tournament people have finally started to pay attention and respect Rybakina. She’s so damn good. When at her best near unbeatable, but even without that top level she can get over the line. Pressure has been off her, motivation is there w/ treatment after Wimby
Here We Go! She has done it! ELENA RYBAKINA IS IN AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL 🏆
The tennis community needs to apologize to elena rybakina. fuck all the slam organizers and the journalists who've been disrespecting her. That's called a perfect answer for people who talk shit about u. https://t.co/W3pi3TOYFJ
So uh yeah, I’m definitely in love with Elena Rybakina now 🔥🔥🔥
Elena Rybakina, so cool. What a player.
I said at the start of the tournament, show some respect to Elena Rybakina - a reigning Wimbledon winner who was put on Court 13 in the first round.
All of a sudden everyone getting around her.
Well done Elena for making the final #AusOpen #AO2023
what a tennis player Elena Rybakina is🔥 #AusOpen
So long overdue especially bcs she was having a fantastic early season in 2020 until COVID ruined it + last year she didn’t get the 2K points from winning @Wimbledon, but whatever happens in @AustralianOpen final, next week ELENA RYBAKINA WILL OFFICIALLY BE A TOP 10 @WTA PLAYER.
"I think at Wimbledon, I answered all the questions, and there is nothing to say anymore" - Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina declared that she answered all the questions regarding her Russian heritage during her Wimbledon championship run, refusing to entertain the topic once more in press conferences at her Australian Open campaign. A Russian by birth, Rybakina represents Kazakhastan now after the she switched federations due to financial reasons.
"I think at Wimbledon I answered all the questions, and there is nothing to say anymore," she said in her post-match press conference.
Although she admitted that she got a lot of support from around the world after her win at SW 19, Rybakina was of the opinion that most of it came from Kazakhstan, further cementing her love for her tennis federation.
"I think I get a lot of support around the world, but mostly I think that it's from Kazakhstan, for sure.
"Tough to say for me, because the best support, let's say, I got -- not the best, but like first feeling where I really got a lot of support was at the Olympics when I played and there was no crowd there, but just receiving all the messages and everything. So I think it's a little bit from everywhere, but mostly from Kazakhstan," she added.