Novak Djokovic’s PTPA’s Executive Director confirms starting a dialogue with Elena Rybakina and her coach Stefano Vukov amid the performance bye controversy in Tokyo 

Elena Rybakina pulled out of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo a few days after slamming WTA.

Novak Djokovic’s PTPA’s Executive Director confirms starting a dialogue with Elena Rybakina and her coach Stefano Vukov amid the performance bye controversy in Tokyo 

Elena Rybakina gets help from Novak Djokovic's PTPA (Images via CNN, X)

The Elena Rybakina controversy regarding the performance byes at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and her pulling out of the tournament has taken a new turn after Novak Djokovic-backed Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) Executive Director Ahmad Nassar revealed that he has had a dialogue with the Kazakh player and her coach, Stefano Vukov. Replying to the long message posted by Vukov slamming the WTA for performance byes, Nassar made the revelation. 

He has claimed that he is in touch with Elena and Stefano and also agreed with what Vukov said in his post. This revelation has added fuel to the controversy as it seems PTPA will help Rybakina fight for her rights. 

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“We are in touch with Stefano & Elena on this issue,” said Nassar via a post on X. 

It is worth mentioning that Rybakina pulled out of the tournament a few days after Maria Sakkari and Caroline Garcia got performance byes despite being ranked below the Kazakh ace in the WTA rankings. Although she denied any connection between her decision to pull out and WTA not giving her a bye in the first round, many have found a link between the two events.

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Tough few weeks for Elena Rybakina

It has been a tough few weeks for Elena Rybakina. While the Kazakhistan tennis ace started the year on a high with a finals qualification at the Australian Open, she failed to go past the third round at the 2023 US Open. Rybakina lost to Romanian Sorana Cirstea in her third-round match at the Flushing Meadows and her dream to lift her first major title of the year ended.

Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina (Image via ESPN)

While Rybakina missed out on the San Diego Open and Guadalajara Open, the Kazakh ace would have hoped to make an impactful comeback at the Tokyo Open. However, the controversy spoiled her plans and nothing can be said when the World No. 5 will be able to make a comeback.

“I’m really sorry to have to withdraw from Tokyo this year,” Rybakina said while announcing her withdrawal from the Tokyo Open. “I was really looking forward to playing the event and I love the city. I have to prioritize my health and fitness and need time to get to 100 percent health.” Meanwhile, her coach openly lashed out at WTA for introducing performance byes while claiming it makes no sense.

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