By Harry Poole, BBC Sport
Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, declined to join a post-match photograph with WTA Tour chief executive Portia Archer after winning the WTA Finals on Saturday.
Rybakina defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to claim the title, moving to fifth in the world and taking home £3.98m — the largest single-tournament payday in women’s tennis history. During the on-court celebrations she stood apart from Sabalenka and Archer despite being invited to be in the photo.
When asked about her decision, Rybakina opted not to give a public explanation. The moment follows a season-long dispute involving her long-time coach Stefano Vukov. Earlier this year an independent investigation found breaches of the WTA’s code of conduct, and Vukov was provisionally suspended and initially denied accreditation for the Australian Open.
Rybakina has said she disagreed with some of the WTA’s actions regarding Vukov and has consistently maintained she was never mistreated by him. Vukov denied wrongdoing, and his provisional suspension was lifted in August; he was present at the WTA Finals as Rybakina won the title.
Concerns about Vukov’s behaviour have been raised publicly by figures such as Pam Shriver, who has urged safer coaching practices in the sport. Shriver, a 21-time Grand Slam doubles champion, previously expressed hope that Rybakina would have a coach who treats her with respect and later criticised any apparent distancing from WTA leadership given the organisation’s push for stronger safeguards.
Rybakina has worked with Vukov since her teens, briefly parted ways before last year’s US Open, and sought his return earlier this year. Even while he was provisionally suspended and denied formal accreditation at the Australian Open, Rybakina said he continued to help her with on- and off-court matters.
Asked whether relations with the WTA had been repaired after Vukov’s reinstatement, Rybakina told AFP that while there had been opportunities for conversation, nothing definitive had been resolved and that everyone would continue to do their jobs. She said she preferred to keep the reason for not taking the ceremonial photo private.
The WTA declined to comment when approached by BBC Sport. BBC Sport has also contacted Rybakina for a response.
This article was produced by BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.
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