Elena Rybakina, currently ranked as the World No.4 in women’s tennis, encountered an unusual scenario at the 2024 French Open. Following her second-round triumph over Arantxa Rus, she was notably absent from the media interview lineup. This absence came shortly after Rybakina openly criticized the repetitive nature of questions posed by journalists during a previous press conference. Despite her stellar performance on the court, her candid comments seemed to have influenced the media’s decision, resulting in no interview requests post-match. Her straightforward remarks about the lack of engaging questions sparked a variety of reactions, with some fans applauding her honesty and others suggesting that her approach might not be beneficial for the sport’s growth.
Performance and Achievements in 2024
As of now, Elena Rybakina holds an impressive 32-5 match record for the year 2024. Competing in the French Open, she has already secured victories against Greetje Minnen, ranked 85th, with a score of 6-2, 6-3, and Arantxa Rus, ranked 50th, with a score of 6-3, 6-4. In the upcoming third round, Rybakina is set to face Elise Mertens, who is ranked 27th. Historically, Rybakina leads their head-to-head encounters with a 4-1 record.
Throughout 2024, the Kazakhstani tennis star has claimed three titles, triumphing in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, and Stuttgart. Additionally, she reached the finals in Doha at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open and in Miami at the Miami Open. Over her career, Rybakina has amassed a total of eight titles, with victories spanning across different surfaces: four on hard courts, three on clay, and one on grass.