Elena Rybakina blames the WTA for poor communication over the performance bye rule in Japan as the new rule continues to be a topic of debate

Rybakina blamed the WTA for their inability to explain the newly re-introduced rule regarding 'performance byes'.

Elena Rybakina blames the WTA for poor communication over the performance bye rule in Japan as the new rule continues to be a topic of debate

Elena Rybakina (Image : Daily Express)

Kazakh top seed, Elena Rybakina, is currently competing at the China Open in Beijing. On Monday, she beat Asian Games Gold medalist, Qinwen Zheng in the first round of the WTA 1000 event. The World No.5 made headlines recently when she accused the WTA of unfair treatment of players with their re-introduction of performance byes.

Last month, Rybakina pulled out of the recently concluded Toray Pan Pacific Open in Japan. Though the player listed her need to “prioritize” her “health and fitness” in a statement on her social media, the former 28-year-old’s coach, Stefano Vukov questioned the WTA, criticizing their decision. “Just to make things clear, there is no explanation of what a performance bye is. What does does this mean?” Vukov had asked the Association.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mJnhkeFwJ4

Rybakina, despite being the third seed at the event, did not receive a performance bye after the draw was revealed. However, players ranked above and below her did avail of these byes.

FS Video

In a conversation with the Beijing Press recently, the former Wimbledon Champ elaborated on her concerns and what made her take the decision. “In Tokyo I was not happy. They did not inform me about the performance bye,” Rybakina said. Explaining the issue in Japan, she revealed, “What was written on the information sheet & everywhere is that in Tokyo there would be between four & six performance byes, what she(at the Pan Pacific Open)did not explain was whether they would add two additional byes or remove one.”

“Here the rule is a little different and it was explained a little better,” World No.5 said as she explained how things at the current WTA 1000 event were contrasting. “I don’t think it would be good to put this rule only at the end of the season because we had a lot of events like this. I don’t think it looks good for the world number one not to have a bye,” she said.

“This is something to discuss with the players & see how it is going to be the rule in the future because it has not been fulfilled for four years. That is why many players, especially young players, did not know it. It is not that difficult to explain how it is going to work, that is why many players are not happy,” Rybakina further added.

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Elena Rybakina lists out the real reason behind skipping the WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open

Rybakina was ready to enter the WTA 500 event in Japan as she was expecting a first-round bye owing to her top-4 seeding. For context, WTA traditionally hands out the top four seeds first-round byes. However, since the WTA hands byes on the basis of performances in the preceding tournaments, lower-ranked seeds, Maria Sakkari and Caroline Garcia, earned themselves a top-4 seeding ahead of the Kazakh due to their semi-final appearance at the Guadalajara Open.

Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina(Image via: Tennis Tonic)

Rybakina’s subsequent withdrawal from the tournament led to speculations that her not getting a bye was the reason behind the decision. The World No.5 put the speculations to rest as she addressed the rumors in a press conference at the ongoing WTA event in China.

“Well, for sure I’m focusing now just to play a little bit more matches because unfortunately I got sick again, & maybe no one knew it. New York was tough for me. After that, it was a couple of weeks to recover. That’s why now coming even to Tokyo, it was not the best for me maybe to play there. Now I’m just looking to play some matches. Of course, all the focus is going to the WTA Finals,”  the 24-year-old told the press in Beijing.

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