The Kazakhstani player, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) to clinch her biggest title since Wimbledon 2022, stood apart during the official trophy presentation — a gesture widely interpreted as a silent protest against the WTA’s handling of the disciplinary case involving her coach, Stefano Vukov.
Witnesses observed Rybakina posing with Sabalenka before stepping aside when Archer joined the photo session. A male official reportedly gestured for Rybakina to join the group, but she raised her hand and declined, maintaining her position off to the right of the stage.
The WTA has yet to issue a statement on the incident. When asked about it in her post-match press conference, Rybakina initially avoided comment. Pressed further, she offered a restrained but pointed response:
“I think we’re all doing our job, and we had the opportunity to have conversations, but in the end, they never happened. So we’re all doing our job, and I think we’re going to keep it this way.”
Background to the Dispute
The strained moment comes months after the WTA’s disciplinary action against Rybakina’s long-time coach, Stefano Vukov, who was suspended in 2024 following allegations of abusive and coercive behavior toward a player.
According to a confidential report obtained by The Athletic, WTA investigators concluded that Vukov had engaged in “abuse of authority and abusive conduct,” including actions that “compromised the psychological, physical, or emotional well-being of the player.”
He was accused of physical and verbal abuse, as well as exploiting his professional relationship for personal or financial gain. The report cited one instance in which Vukov allegedly refused to leave Rybakina’s New York hotel after being fired, making over 100 calls and messages to her phone in a single day.
Vukov, however, has denied all allegations, telling The Athletic earlier this year that he “never abused anyone.”
Rybakina’s Loyalty and Tension with WTA
Throughout the controversy, Rybakina has publicly defended her coach, insisting that he had never mistreated her and describing their partnership as “professional and productive.”
Her support continued even while Vukov served his suspension — she thanked him in May after winning the Strasbourg International, despite his ongoing ban from attending tournaments. Following a private arbitration process, his suspension was lifted in August 2025, allowing him to return to her coaching box.
Saturday’s final marked his official comeback to courtside duties — a symbolic victory for both coach and player.
A Victory Clouded by Controversy
While Rybakina’s straight-sets win over Sabalenka underscored her position among tennis’s elite, the trophy ceremony standoff drew just as much attention as her on-court dominance.
Observers saw the gesture as an implicit rebuke of WTA leadership, reflecting lingering frustration over what Rybakina has described as poor communication and unresolved tensions surrounding Vukov’s treatment.
Despite the awkward atmosphere, Rybakina walked away with one of the most prestigious titles of her career — and more than $5 million in prize money.
But even as she lifted the trophy, the focus shifted from her performance to the deepening rift between one of the sport’s rising stars and the governing body meant to support her.