As Elena Rybakina gears up to compete in the semifinals of the Canadian Open, she was recently grilled about her thoughts on her proximity to the World No.1 ranking. However, fans were left annoyed at the question and slammed the journalist for ‘putting pressure’ on the Kazakh.
Rybakina is currently ranked No.2 on the WTA Tour behind Aryna Sabalenka. There is a difference of 494 points between the two stars, with Sabalenka sitting on the top spot with 8,550 points, while Rybakina is hot on her tail with 8,056. Additionally, with the Belarusian having been upset in the round of 16 at the Canadian Open, Rybakina has the opportunity to come within four points of the World No.1 ranking if she lifts the title in Toronto.
Thanks for the submission!
Recently, an interviewer on the Tennis Channel asked Elena Rybakina if she was thinking about the World No.1 ranking. In response, she shut down the line of questioning, saying,
“No, you guys are asking me all the time. Only when you ask, I have to think about it.”
Reacting to the interaction, one fan slammed the interviewer for putting pressure on Rybakina, writing,
“Please stop asking her about it! Even if she wins the title she won’t be #1 yet, very close..yes. But please stop putting pressure on her.”
Another fan called the question ‘ridiculous’, writing,
“It is a ridiculous question! She gave zero emotion after wining a grand slam lmao, you think she would ever care about being “#1” lmao.”
Here is how other tennis enthusiasts reacted to Elena Rybakina being grilled about the World No.1 ranking:
“That’s it, Elena, focus on winning titles,” one fan encouraged.
“Love that Elena is playing free from the pressure of rank 1 talks and makes lighthearted interviews like these now. enjoy every moment, Elena and let the results take care of themselves,” another added.
“I get the mild annoyance, it really feels like commentators/interviewers have asked her this question in like 10 different ways 😭,” one X user sympathised.
“Leave my girl alone, damn it,” yet another fan chimed in.
Elena Rybakina gears up for Coco Gauff clash at Canadian Open
After a lukewarm grass season where she failed to make it past the quarterfinals in any event, Elena Rybakina kicked off her hard court swing on the perfect note at the Canadian Open. The Kazakh began her campaign at the tournament with a hard fought win over Daria Kasatkina, before ousting Anna Li in straight sets. She then went on to take down Liudmila Samsonova and Naomi Osaka to seal her spot in the semifinals.
Now, Rybakina will face off against Coco Gauff in an attempt to make it to her fourth final of the year. The American has enjoyed a comfortable time in Toronto so far, and is yet to drop a set at the event.
Rybakina and Gauff have previously competed against each other at the Canadian Open in 2022, when the latter clinched a 6-4, 6(8)-7, 7-6(3) win. This time around, Elena Rybakina will be hoping to avenge her old loss.
Edited by Riddhi Acharya