Elena Rybakina Gets Booed by Indian Wells Crowd For Challenging a Call Against Sonay Kortal

Elena Rybakina is into the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells following Sonay Kartal's retirement.

Elena Rybakina Gets Booed by Indian Wells Crowd For Challenging a Call Against Sonay Kortal

Elena Rybakina and Sonay Kartal (via X/WTA /Ann)

In Short
  • Elena Rybakina advanced to the quarter-finals of Indian Wells after Sonay Kartal retired due to injury.
  • Rybakina faced boos from the crowd after successfully challenging a call against Kartal during the match.
  • Rybakina will compete against Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals, aiming for her first tour-level semi-final since winning the Australian Open.

Elena Rybakina advanced to the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells after British star Sonay Kartal was forced to retire midway through the match due to a leg injury. However, beyond the unfortunate ending of the tie, the contest drew attention for a notable moment when Rybakina challenged the umpire’s decision, which was ultimately overturned after a check.

Kartal had produced one of her best performances in months at the California desert after stunning 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys. The British star came from a set down to beat Keys 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. She arrived at the court against Rybakina not at her best physical level, as she had exerted so much energy against Keys.

In the first set, she tried to withstand Rybakina’s heavy-hitting serves on the court. Rybakina must have noticed Kartal’s physical conditions as she broke the 24-year-old in the sixth game. Kartal had tried to stretch for a return, but after that, Rybakina lobbed the ball over the British star, who didn’t chase it.

With Rybakina leading 4-3, Kartal looked to be in discomfort and had to call for a medical timeout to receive treatment on her leg. When play resumed, Rybakina made sure she steadied herself and held her serve to move 5-4. But play stopped when Kartal asked for the physio again, as concerns about her leg seemed to be hampering her game.

Once play resumed, Rybakina wasted no time to win the set. 4-3 into the second set, Kartal then decided to retire from the match, and reports suggest that it wasn’t just a leg problem but a lower back injury that she has been struggling with for weeks, but had continued to play irrespective of the pain.

However, the most intense part of the match happened during a rally as Kartal moved forward and played a delicate backhand drop shot at the net. The shot won her the point, but her force carried her to the net before the ball had bounced twice on Rybakina’s side of the court. Rybakina immediately challenged that Kartal’s body must have touched the net.

The chair umpire was forced to review the incident, after which she gave the point to Rybakina, stating that indeed Kartal had touched the net while the ball was still in play. The overturning of the point didn’t go too well with the Indian Wells crowd, as they believed Rybakina should have allowed play to continue. The crowd showed their frustration with loud jeers but Rybakina didn’t mind at all.

Elina Svitolina to face Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells

Elena Rybakina is in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells. The Kazakhstan star is into her fourth quarter-finals of the season. She has already gone past her round of 16 exit last year, which will earn her additional ranking points. The World No.3 is yet to reach a tour-level semi-final since winning the Australian Open in January.

Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula
Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula (Image via X/AllAboutHQ)

Rybakina will face Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals for a place in the last four of the WTA 1000 tournament. Pegula has been in red-hot form this season and won the Dubai Tennis Championships last month. She reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open after beating fellow American star Amanda Anisimova.

However, before November last year, Pegula had a 3-2 lead over Rybakina in their head-to-head record on tour. But the 2024 US Open finalist lost their last two meetings at the WTA Finals and the Australian Open. The last time Pegula defeated Rybakina in a competitive match was at the 2023 WTA Finals in Mexico, and that was in straight sets.

Rybakina is one of the favorites to win the Indian Wells Open. She’s in the other half of the draw, which means if she does beat Pegula, she will likely face Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals before a potential match-up against Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Pegula will hope to be at her best when she takes on Rybakina at the California desert.

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