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It’s a day ending in “y”, so tennis will bring the drama.

But on Saturday, in Athens and Riyadh and Turin (and even Metz), there were extra double-helpings of it.

And beyond the tennis, which was pretty great, the drama … wasn’t great. That it all happened pretty much simultaneously is just another … tennis thing they truly should work on.

Saturday tennis drama – Part II: Waiting for Djoko

Here’s Part I: The WTA Finals story

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It should have been a glorious ending to a pretty terrific WTA Tour season.

And in many ways, it was.

Elena Rybakina, who began the season with her coach and reported boyfriend Stefano Vukov suspended by the WTA, and who hadn’t won a high-level title since the Italian Open in the spring of 2023, went on a late-season surge and was the last to qualify for this week’s WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

And then she went on a tear, capped off with a virtuoso performance Saturday against a bitterly disappointed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, a 6-3, 7-6 (0) victory that puts her back into the top five, and puts $5.235 million US into her pocket.

Few ever doubt that Rybakina’s talent is such that she’s entirely capable of this kind of effort. But it’s been a drama-filled, complicated couple of years.

Considering how hard she and Vukov fought the suspension, trying to find any angle to get him back into the picture before he finally did return in Cincinnati last August, the winning was the best statement she could make.

Except, it turns out it wasn’t enough for those two.

No photos, please

Rybakina and Vukov decided that the best way to handle this was to … show up WTA CEO Portia Archer during the trophy ceremony. And, by extension, the WTA itself.

After the trophies were handed out, the round of photographs was to begin with Archer set to stand between Rybakina and Sabalenka for an official photo. It’s typical protocol; nothing unusual there.

Except Rybakina immediately decided to walk away, to the other end of the court, and declined to return when WTA official Pete Holterman beckoned her, and Archer stood there looking confused. Rybakina didn’t even look her way, returning to take a photo with Sabalenka as Archer bowed out.

Archer has been extremely low profile since she assumed the role on July 29, 2024, just weeks before the Tour provisionally barred Vukov from the Tour pending an investigation that concluded early this year, and resulted in a one-year suspension.

Except for once; a year ago at the inaugural Riyadh WTA Finals in her first public remarks of note – Riyadh was and is a controversial choice to host the event, considering the longstanding track record in terms of its treatment of women – she put her foot in it and had to backtrack.

This time, just by her presence, she found herself in the middle of another awkward situation.

A deliberate and clearly pre-planned one, one that Rybakina declined to comment on in press after the victory.

Point: The WTA did her dirty; good for her

This was the position that many of her fans, and the less mature among the online tennis fandom, appear to take.

It’s a combination of the default fan position that players can do no wrong, and the sincere belief from some that the WTA shouldn’t have been messing in her business.

There’s a glimmer of a point there. And it’s very much a grey area in professional tennis, where the athletes are not employees of the Tour. Rather, they are more like independent contractors who each have to handle their own small businesses, under the same umbrella.

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No one would blame Rybakina for being angry. But again, hoisting that trophy and cashing that $5.235 million cheque are the best revenge, served very cold.

And it’s ironic, of course, that all of this takes place after the WTA Tour chose to take the sportwashing money proffered by Saudi Arabia to get its business back on firmer financial footing, after virtually drowning during the pandemic and going from last-minute host to last-minute host for the crown jewel of its season for several years after that.

The region has a horrific track record in its treatment of women – no matter how much of a public-relations blitz they put on this week. And with that as a backdrop, the fact that the suspension was imposed upon Vukov after multiple complaints about his behaviour and treatment of his player is … well, it’s ironic.

But it’s also not the same thing.

Counterpoint: Biting the hand that feeds you

The criticisms of the WTA Tour hitching its wagon to Saudi Arabia continued this year, the second of a three-year hosting agreement.

No doubt they’re hoping that it will die down, as the outrage zone is flooded with new material every day. And the crowds were better this year.

The tennis wasn’t – until the last couple of days, when it was all you could ask for.

It’s a week that should have ended on a high, something for the WTA to build upon. Instead, it ends with its champion flipping the (figurative) bird at the organization that signed that cheque, and is the only workplace in which she could have amassed close to $25 million US just in on-court earnings at the young age of 26.

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To paraphrase something Vukov once reportedly said to her, referring to himself, as outlined by the Athletic’s story quoting the letter sent from Archer to Vukov when the suspension was imposed : “She would still be in Russia picking potatoes” without (the WTA).

If that sounds really harsh, it is. REALLY harsh. But Vukov was the one who reportedly said it to her. Among many other things, and actions, that led the WTA to investigate and issue the suspension.

The WTA doesn’t do this on a whim; there are surely dozens of situations out there that merit closer scrutiny and arguably similar action. Taking that step is a minefield in terms of its image, and its relationship with the player. As far as we’ve been able to determine, “only” three coaches have been issued suspensions over the last couple of years. That it went that far can only be construed as serious concern for her welfare; the WTA certainly doesn’t derive any benefit from it.

Two direct consequences

The first thing this very public snub did was to bring all of that unpleasant drama back to the fore, instead of turning the page on it and basking in the satisfaction of a job well done.

Because while many of her fans back Rybakina’s public stance on this, there are many more who have long been concerned about her relationship with Vukov.

The second thing it did was to embarrass the WTA publicly, on its biggest stage. Which leaves an ugly taste as the women’s Tour finally heads into its very short offseason.

It was unprofessional. And unless you buy the unlikely notion that this was all Rybakina’s brainchild, it only buttresses the argument that Vukov is a poor influence.

Many of us might fantasize about publicly shaming a boss we hate. But they sign our paycheques. And so, for that reason, we hold our tongues, pose for a photo at the office Christmas party (we don’t have to smile), nod at the appropriate times, and get on with our lives.

True fact: Rybakina needs the WTA far more than the WTA needs her.

Should the WTA act?

Section XVII of the WTA Code of Conduct states this about unsportsmanlike conduct.

It’s a fine line in this case, we’ll grant you.

But the wilful and deliberate action would seem to qualify. As well, if you’re going to make that kind of public statement, you should give the organizers a heads-up in advance. Because it created a situation that was awkward for the officials, for Archer, for the fans on hand who noticed, for the commentators duty-bound to ignore it, and for Sabalenka as well.

And if you’re going to make that kind of statement on that stage, in that moment, you should be willing to back it up when the media asks you about it.

When asked post-match, she said she “preferred to keep the reason between her and Archer”, per Agence France-Presse.

Asked about whether there have been any reconciliation talks between the two sides, Rybakina was vague.

“I think we’re all doing our job and we had the opportunity to have conversations but in the end it never happened so we’re all doing our job and I think we’re going to keep it this way.”

We reached out to the WTA for comment on this, but they declined to comment.

So far, the only release they’ve put out is about the success of the event, including a comment attributed to Archer:

You wouldn’t think they would pursue it; giving it more oxygen will only exacerbate it. They also don’t like acknowledging uncomfortable things.

But it’s a buzzkill after what was a terrific finals day.

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