Elena Rybakina calls out ‘weak WTA leadership’: I don’t feel like Wimbledon champion

World No. 25 Elena Rybakina voiced some frustration with the WTA over their “weak leadership” and added she doesn’t feel like a Wimbledon champion.

Rybakina, 23, clinched her first Grand Slam title after beating Ons Jabeur in this year’s Wimbledon final.

But Rybakina wasn’t rewarded a single point for her Wimbledon triumph.

Had Rybakina been rewarded with points, she would have reached the top-10 for the first time and now she would have been the second player on the Race to the WTA Finals.

“I would say it was great achievement for me,” Rybakina said, per Tennis Majors. “I’m super proud of my team, of course. (But) experience-wise, I would say it was not the greatest. I think this is the problem of the structure of the tour. Honestly, a bit weak leadership because we have so many things going on. It was my dream to win Wimbledon. It’s pity. I feel like actually I’m not the Wimbledon champion. It takes time to realise, but when you’re going from tournament to tournament, this is how you feel in the end of the day.”

Rybakina not getting her matches scheduled on top courts

Rybakina enters the US Open as the 25th-ranked player in the world and she hasn’t been getting top court schedules since her impressive Wimbledon victory.

“It’s everything,” Rybakina added. “It’s points situation. I don’t think that it’s fair. Of course, we cannot change it. It was a decision before, (but) knowing that as of today I (would) be No 2 on the Race. I don’t think it’s fair. I’m talking not only about myself, but just generally I think with all the decisions, many players are paying for all these decisions. You can be No and everything is great, but in the end of the day you’re just forgetting where you’re coming from and how tough it is actually to get to where you are. I didn’t get this feeling to be No 2, because it’s still different treatment when you are top 10 or top 20. Even with the win of Wimbledon, it’s kind of different feeling. It’s not the same as to be No 5 or 4. I would say if you go to play a tournament. Me, as a Wimbledon champion, have to feel like, yes, now attention is on me, and I’m playing good. It was good. For example, in one tournament I go and play against the greatest champion, Muguruza, and we play on Court No. 4. This is kind of like question for me. I don’t think that this is fair.”

Rybakina plays a qualifier in the US Open first round.