Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina talks lack of spotlight and recognition

Friday, 20 January 2023 at 19:35

Updated at Friday, 12 July 2024 at 15:41

Rybakina Elena Wimbledon2022 MartinSidorjak18

byJordan Reynolds

Elena Rybakina won Wimbledon last year but the player hasn't been in any kind of media spotlight since then which is somewhat unusual.

It's a big event to win Wimbledon, but that doesn't mean you'll automatically become well-known. The tennis community and her professional peers hold Rybakina in high regard, but the general public is less interested in her.

I honestly don't care because it wasn't easy after Wimbledon with the scheduling. But in the end I'm here to play tennis. I'm feeling good. So I'm super happy to get through to another match. Doesn't matter which court I'm going to play.

— Rybakina on playing smaller courts<br>

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She's been mostly delegated to play on the smaller courts in Australia which generally doesn't happen to a grand slam champion, let alone the reigning Wimbledon champion. It's something she noticed but to her that's just motivation to win more and do better.

I guess it's a motivation to win even more. Maybe next time they're going to put me first match somewhere else, not the Court 13. As I said, it doesn't really matter. I just want to win as much as I can.

— Rybakina on lack of recognition<br>