Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim not too long ago spoke up about Elena Rybakina’s controversial act of snubbing WTA chief Portia Archer following her title triumph on the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Rybakina refused to face alongside Archer and runner-up Aryna Sabalenka throughout a post-match, on-court photoshoot, with the Kazakh’s resolution stemming from the WTA’s remedy of her coach Stefano Vukov.
In keeping with Andy Roddick, a former ATP No. 1 and the 2003 US Open champion, Elena Rybakina nonetheless holds a grudge in opposition to the WTA for the best way it deemed Vukov responsible of violating its code of conduct. Initially, the Croatian coach was dealt a provisional suspension and subsequently, he was banned for a yr, with the ban finally being lifted in August 2025 following a profitable enchantment.
“I do not know that anybody’s ever been apprehensive in regards to the on-the-court product with Rybakina when all is nicely, proper? There was some turmoil and clearly there’s nonetheless some emotions about how every part went down and the truth that they suspended her coach. I do not understand how else to outline it. I will not go there however there’s nonetheless appears to be some situation,” Roddick stated on his ‘Served’ podcast.
Subsequent, famend tennis journalist and analyst Jon Wertheim weighed in together with his opinion on the Elena Rybakina controversy on the identical podcast episode. In Wertheim’s view, the WTA wasn’t at any fault over Stefano Vukov’s suspension. The 55-year-old additionally introduced up the Kazakh’s usually cool and calm on-court demeanor and the way her snub of the WTA chief was an expression of her persona.
“It is a participant who would not surrender a lot. I do not know should you noticed her response on match level, not precisely cartwheels. This isn’t a participant who’s significantly expressive, in order that gesture, mainly not acknowledging the WTA was really a uncommon glimpse into her persona,” Wertheim stated.
“I do not assume the WTA has any apologizing to do. There’s a code of conduct. They decided her coach violated that time period of conduct. WTA did nothing fallacious for my part. Nevertheless it stated one thing that she’s nonetheless defiant about that and in addition, this case may have gone loads darker. We ought to be comfortable for everybody concerned,” he added.
Elena Rybakina confronted stern criticism from American ex-WTA professional in aftermath of Portia Archer snub
Pam Shriver, former World No. 3 in singles and No. 1 in doubles, did not take too kindly to Elena Rybakina’s refusal to face alongside Portia Archer for a photograph following her 2025 WTA Finals title triumph. Shriver took to X (previously Twitter) and wrote:
“Think about profitable extra prize cash in a single event than your entire Authentic 9 over their collective careers, then dissing WTA CEO as a result of the CEO has tried to make sure stronger safeguards in your sports activities… it’s arduous to think about.”
Elena Rybakina herself although, clarified her stance on the topic in a while, saying that the WTA had a number of alternatives to clear the air along with her over its remedy of her coach. Nevertheless, in keeping with the Kazakh, the ladies’s tennis governing physique did not take advantage of these alternatives.
Edited by Sudipto Pati
