© Getty Images Sport – Minas Panagiotakis
Elena Rybakina has clarified that her Tokyo withdrawal had nothing to do with her previously calling out the WTA. After Rybakina wasn’t rewarded a top-4 seeding and a first-round bye in Tokyo due to the WTA’s trialing of “performance byes,” Over the weekend, Rybakina wrote on her Instagram Story: “Performance bye.
Thank you for changing the rules last moment. Great decisions as always @wta.” Rybakina’s Instagram Story also included clown and circus emojis. On Monday, Rybakina pulled out of Tokyo and many wondered if the 2022 Wimbledon champion made the move to make a statement to the WTA.
“As a player I want to give my all on the court and at the moment my body is not ready to do that. That’s why I decided to listen to my body and withdraw from the tournament. I love Japan, my fans here are so unique and for that reason this is a tough decision.
The WTA topic is another topic, on which I have my opinions and will clearly voice them in future. To my fans. thank you for your support, I appreciate it very much,” Rybakina wrote on her Instagram Story.
Rybakina won’t be making her second Tokyo appearance this year
Last year, 24-year-old Rybakina made…
