SUMMARY
- Elena Rybakina was seemingly annoyed with a ball boy's inability to hold up an umbrella during her match against Magdalena Frech.
- Even Jelena Ostapenko had to guide a ball boy during her match.
Elena Rybakina has been in supreme form this season. Her campaign in the Middle East has been successful so far, as she eyes another title in Dubai. However, the Kazakh player was seemingly annoyed with a ball boy’s ineptitude, and she ended up swapping seats.
The second WTA 1000 event of the tour is currently underway in Dubai, with temperatures reaching as high as 75 degrees. As the day wore on, the players felt the heat, including Elena, whose match was scheduled for the afternoon. It was not an easy match by any means, as Polish player Magdalena Frech gave her a tough fight.
With both players having won a set each, the deciding set saw an exciting couple of games. Things took a rather hilariously bizarre turn as Elena was leading 3-2, and sat on her bench.
HAHAHAHAHAHAH SHE IS SO PISSED OF pic.twitter.com/mwciPy161f
— Rybakina STAN FOREVER (@rybaaaa176) February 21, 2024
A ball boy came up with an umbrella to shade her from the sun, but she got irritated when he could not hold it up properly. Rybakina got up and walked towards the service line, taking a seat in the shade. The chair umpire tried calling her back, but she sat hydrating herself until the match resumed. Given Rybakina’s response, one user commented, “She’s so p*ssed off!”
It was not the only instance of a ball boy failing to hold an umbrella properly. During Jelena Ostapenko‘s match, the Latvian also had to guide the boy’s hand to shade her from the sun.
Hahaha, Penko took the matter in her own hands.https://t.co/M7Nl2j7yWn
— Gaby S. (@gabyserrar) February 21, 2024
Elena Rybakina fought her way through the quarterfinals by defeating Frech 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4. The match lasted over two and a half hours in the scorching heat.
Elena Rybakina makes an honest confession
Rybakina has been in red-hot form since the season began. She has already collected two titles, one in Brisbane and another in Abu Dhabi. Now she has eyes on winning her first WTA 1000 title of the year.
After defeating a spirited Magdalena Frech, she confessed that even though the season has begun, it is getting tougher. Rybakina has won 17 matches, the most by any player on the tour.
“I was happy to survive!” 💪
Elena Rybakina reflects on a dramatic performance to reach the quarter-finals in Dubai 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hH186Q70o6
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) February 21, 2024
“It’s just the beginning of the year. Of course, it’s a great start, but it’s not easy. Most important is to stay healthy. With every match, it’s getting tougher and tougher physically but really happy with the start of the year, hopefully, I just can continue like this,” she said.
The season is long, and Elena Rybakina’s statement sheds light on the punishing schedule for the players. However, she will hope to keep up this momentum as the season progresses.
