“Have some empathy”; “Bad taste” – Elena Rybakina fans lash out at media over concerning video release after WTA Finals withdrawal
Elena Rybakina made a shocking withdrawal from the 2026 WTA Finals with less than a day left for her opening group-stage game, sending shock waves across the tennis world. To add insult to injury, the publication of a concerning interview of her looking unwell during media duties at the tournament has attracted the scorn of her fans on social media.
Having confirmed her spot as the year-end World No. 1, Rybakina was set to defend her title at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells this week. In the first match, she was scheduled to face Linda Noskova, with Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula the other two players in her group.
On Friday, things were already concerning, as Rybakina skipped the official press conference, while the other seven players on site reported for duty. And then, it was finally announced on Saturday that the Kazakh will be opting out of the tournament for health reasons.
“I am really sad to inform all my fans and supporters that i unfortunately have to withdraw from the wta finals this year. I’ve had an incredible season but my body is just not physically ready to compete. I’m going to spend some time resting and recovering at home and getting myself ready for the 2027 season,” she said in a statement.
However, things did not end there. The release of a video from Canal+ Sport, where Rybakina was seen in the middle of an interview, made things more alarming. In the clip shared on social media, Rybakina appeared not at ease, and stopped the interview as soon as the reporter noted she was not doing well.
Fans, however, thought it unprofessional on the part of the media, and questioned the lack of empathy for the World No. 1.
“Why did you publish this? Have some empathy for Elena and delete this post!!!” one fan wrote
“There is such a thing as decency. Behind-the-scenes material is cool, but you shouldn’t publish this.”
Here are a few more reasons:
How dare you guys post this? ? ?
@TheTennisLetter It looks like panic attack to me
Elena Rybakina finishes 2026 with 2 Grand Slam titles
With her season coming to an end, Elena Rybakina still goes out with her best season on the WTA Tour. The Kazakh won the first and last Grand Slams of 2026 — the Australian Open and the US Open. For both titles, she beat Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Rybakina won two other trophies this year, the Stuttgart Open and the Ningbo Open. She lost two finals, to Sabalenka at the Indian Wells Open and to Iga Swiatek at the Canadian Open.
