“She Looked Really Uncomfortable”: Rybakina Forced to Move Official’s Hand During Awkward Trophy Ceremony
Elena Rybakina’s swift reaction at Indian Wells exhibition goes viral, sparking fan outrage
Published: March 5, 2026 | 3 min read
INDIAN WELLS — Elena Rybakina came to Indian Wells to defend a title. Instead, she’s defending her personal space.
The Australian Open champion found herself in an awkward situation during the Eisenhower Cup trophy presentation Wednesday, when a tournament official’s unwanted touch forced her to take matters into her own hands.
Video of the incident has since exploded across social media.
Rybakina, 26, teamed with American Taylor Fritz to win the mixed doubles exhibition event, defeating Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien 10-7 in the final. The pair collected a $200,000 check and individual trophies .
During the post-match photo session, David Renker, senior vice president of Eisenhower Health, stepped in beside Rybakina and placed his arm behind her .
The reigning Australian Open champion reacted instantly.
Footage shows Rybakina nudging Renker’s hand away from her body, then turning to glance in his direction. Renker immediately stepped backward .
The clip spread rapidly across X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, with fans expressing outrage.
“Why is no one talking about how uncomfortable Elena was by that disgusting man touching her that she had to remove his hand,” one fan posted .
“He (Renker) tried to do it twice. No need to feel bad for him,” another commented on Reddit .
A third fan offered a broader perspective: “I just don’t think you have to go for the waist area for anyone. I think shoulder level is the way to go, regardless of gender” .
Some fans questioned why the WTA hasn’t addressed the incident, especially given the organization’s past involvement in Rybakina’s coaching controversies .
Rybakina’s Response
Rybakina has not publicly commented on the incident. Instead, she posted a series of celebratory photos with Fritz on Instagram, focusing on the victory rather than the awkward moment .
After the match, she told reporters: “I’m super happy. Hopefully I can do the same thing in singles” .
Fritz praised his partner’s contribution, admitting: “I can’t really volley all that well so it works out great. She serves great too, so it makes my life really easy” .
This isn’t the first time Rybakina has been at the center of controversy involving personal boundaries.
Earlier in her career, her relationship with former coach Stefano Vukov drew scrutiny, with WTA CEO Portia Archer calling it “toxic.” The WTA briefly banned Vukov before the decision was overturned on appeal .
Now, fans are questioning why the WTA hasn’t spoken up about Wednesday’s incident.
“Where are the WTA, Pam Shriver and the other woke pundits now,” one X user posted. “They allegedly care about Rybakina. This old fella is clearly inappropriately touching Elena” .
Rybakina shifts focus to the main draw at Indian Wells, where she’s a former champion (2023) and one of the top contenders. She’ll begin her campaign Saturday against an opponent yet to be determined .
The WTA and tournament organizers have not issued statements regarding the incident.
For Rybakina, the message was clear without words: a swift nudge, a pointed glance, and back to business.