Watch: Coach tells Elena Rybakina: Jelena Ostapenko called you a f—— b—-
Coach Stefano Vukov was caught telling Elena Rybakina that she was called “a f—— b—-” by Jelena Ostapenko. After Rybakina handed Ostapenko a 6-2 6-4 defeat in the Rome semifinal, Ostapenko appeared to tell something Rybakina at the net before giving her a cold handshake.
Rybakina then appeared to tell the chair umpire to address Ostapenko. Some wanted answers and received one.
Apparently, this incident happened just before the two players were told to head back to the locker room midway through the second set due to the rain.
It’s clear Jelena said something to her at the net. Does anyone have superhuman hearing? ????????
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 19, 2023
Interesting handshake between Elena Rybakina & Jelena Ostapenko in Rome
It looks like Elena told the umpire to tell Jelena something.
I’d love to know what this is all about ???? pic.twitter.com/orr5tnH3kD
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 19, 2023
Interesting handshake between Elena Rybakina & Jelena Ostapenko in Rome
It looks like Elena told the umpire to tell Jelena something.
I’d love to know what this is all about ???? pic.twitter.com/orr5tnH3kD
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 19, 2023
Rybakina happy she got the job done in straight sets against Ostapenko
After winning the first set with a 6-2 score, Rybakina found herself down 1-4 in the second set.
But then, Rybakina won the next five games to complete a two-set win. “I didn’t start that well the second set. A bit low in energy, lost my serve. So it was difficult. Then a few good shots from her, good serves. It changed very quick.
The same time, I knew it’s only one break and I just need to be focused and fight for every ball because you never know, either you get the winner or it’s going to be some mistake,” Rybakina said after the match. At 4-2 in the second set, the players went back to the locker room due to the rain.
“I came without any expectation because I knew the other years were really tough for me coming and play here. Maybe for some people, rain is not good. I guess for my allergies it went the other way. It’s helping me a bit to feel better here.
I’m just happy that I got so many matches now before French Open,” Rybakina explained. By beating Ostapenko, Rybakina made her third WTA 1000 final. In March, Rybakina won her first WTA 1000 title in Indian Wells before finishing as runner-up in Miami.
