Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has made a strongly-worded statement about Elena Rybakina\u2019s decision to represent Kazakhstan instead of Russia.<\/p>\n
Kuznetsova did, though, back Rybakina<\/a>\u2018s decision to snub WTA CEO Portia Archer after she won the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh last week.<\/p>\n Rybakina downed world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) in the final of the WTA Finals to secure her maiden title at the prestigious event.<\/p>\n Svetlana Kuznetsova reacts to Elena Rybakina\u2019s WTA Finals win<\/p>\n Svetlana Kuznetsova has lauded Elena Rybakina\u2019s WTA Finals victory as she assessed that the world No 5\u2019s path to the title was \u201cparticularly difficult\u201d Prior to beating Sabalenka, Rybakina overcame Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals and Ekaterina Alexandrova, Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova in the round robin stage in Riyadh.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old\u2019s WTA Finals triumph is her second biggest career title after she won Wimbledon in 2022.<\/p>\n Why Elena Rybakina refused to be in a photo with the WTA CEO<\/p>\n After defeating Sabalenka in the WTA Finals title match, Rybakina walked away when Portia Archer, the WTA CEO, arrived for the on-court photoshoot.<\/p>\n Rybakina made it clear that she did not want to be in a photo with Archer, and she returned to be in more photos with Sabalenka once the WTA chief left.<\/p>\n While Rybakina has not confirmed why she did this, it is believed to be a result of the WTA Tour banning her controversial coach Stefano Vukov at the start of the season.<\/p>\n Why does Elena Rybakina represent Kazakhstan?<\/p>\n Rybakina, who was born in Moscow, changed her nationality from Russian to start representing Kazakhstan in 2018, having previously played for her country of birth.<\/p>\n She was offered funding, support, money and access to training facilities in return for representing Kazakhstan, having received no financial support from Russia.<\/p>\n \u201cI think everything came together in that moment,\u201d Rybakina told The Guardian.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Kazakhstan Federation, they were looking for players, and I was looking for some help. So we found each other in the perfect moment and this is how I started [my] professional career, I would say.\u201d<\/p>\n Tennis News<\/p>\n What Elena Rybakina had to say about Stefano Vukov and team before and after WTA Finals snub debacle<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe Russian great described Rybakina\u2019s refusal to be in a photo with the WTA CEO as \u201ca strong act that commands respect\u201d
\nThe former world No 2 said Rybakina\u2019s win is \u201cbittersweet\u201d as her decision to compete for Kazakhstan is \u201cdeeply offensive to all her Russian fans.\u201d<\/p>\n