{"id":705823,"date":"2026-06-15T17:05:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T17:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/705823\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T17:05:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T17:05:05","slug":"why-elena-rybakina-deleted-her-instagram-account","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/705823\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Elena Rybakina Deleted Her Instagram Account"},"content":{"rendered":"

BERLIN, Germany \u2014 It\u2019s an important time for Elena Rybakina, who could closing be in on capturing the No. 1 ranking after a resurgent start to the season.<\/p>\n

Second-ranked Rybakina is now only 853 points behind top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA\u2019s live rankings as the tour moves through the grass stretch where she\u2019s often made hay.<\/p>\n

Rybakina downplayed a question about the chase as she spoke to media at WTA 500 Berlin on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to focus on yourself,\u201d Rybakina said. \u201cAnd then whatever happens, we will see.\u201d<\/p>\n

But amid her reticence, Rybakina\u2019s scheduling choices are speaking clearly on her behalf. The 2022 Wimbledon champion has scheduled maximally for the short grass court season, signing up for all three WTA 500-level events held between the French Open and Wimbledon: Queen\u2019s Club, Berlin, and Bad Homburg.<\/p>\n

After escaping from the brink of an upset to beat defending champion Tatjana Maria<\/a> in the second round of Queen\u2019s Club last Friday, Rybakina had to go back on court later that same day to face British wild card Katie Boulter. When her second three-setter of the day ended in defeat, Rybakina decided she\u2019d had enough\u2014of hearing about it from haters, that is.<\/p>\n

Players are often barraged with vitriol after losses from angry gamblers. For a highly-ranked woman who loses a match she\u2019s heavily favored to win, the nastiness can be exponentially higher.<\/p>\n

Within hours of the loss, Rybakina had deleted her Instagram account with over 900,000 followers<\/a>, leaving it offline and deactivated until the next day. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Screenshot of Rybakina\u2019s deactivated Instagram profile. (via @sebsharfam2<\/a> on Twitter)<\/p>\n

On Monday in Berlin, I asked Rybakina why she\u2019d done that; the oft-reserved player had a lot to say on the topic. <\/p>\n

\u201cI usually don\u2019t pay attention so much, but at that point it was *really* a lot.\u201d \u2014Elena Rybakina<\/p>\n

To read the rest, please subscribe to Bounces! -Ben<\/p>\n