“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.

Ben Shelton Saves Three Championship Points to Stun Taylor Fritz in Dallas Thriller

World No. 9 survives set down and match-point danger to claim fourth ATP title in front of rapturous home crowd

By Tennis Majors
February 15, 2026 | 3 min read

DALLAS — Ben Shelton reinforced his reputation as the ATP Tour’s ultimate competitor on Sunday, saving three championship points to stun top seed Taylor Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a high-octane Dallas Open final.

The 23-year-old world No. 9 recovered from a set down for the third consecutive match to secure his fourth career ATP title—and his eighth career win over a top-10 opponent.

“A crazy match to be part of,” both players agreed during the trophy ceremony.

Match Summary

Fritz, ranked No. 7, appeared in total command early, taking the opening set with clinical serving. But the drama peaked in the deciding set:

The left-hander’s path to the trophy was a masterclass in endurance:

Four of five matches went the distance. Each time, Shelton found a way through.

Key Stats

Shelton’s ability to remain aggressive behind his second serve proved the statistical difference in a contest of relentless power.

The top seed reached the final following a series of tight tiebreak battles against Marin Cilic, Sebastian Korda, and Marcos Giron—but could not land the final blow against Shelton’s surging momentum.

For Shelton, the Dallas title is further proof that his combination of power, athleticism, and competitive fire belongs on the game’s biggest stages. For Fritz, another final defeat will sting—but his run confirmed his place among the ATP’s top tier.

Rotterdam Open: Alex de Minaur Clinches Title at Third Time of Asking

Australian ends final hoodoo with dominant straight-sets victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime

February 15, 2026 | 2 min read

ROTTERDAM — Third time’s the charm.

Alex de Minaur finally claimed the Rotterdam Open title on Sunday, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-2 in a commanding final performance—his first ATP trophy since the 2025 Washington Open.

The victory was particularly sweet for the Australian world No. 8, who had fallen in the previous two Rotterdam finals: to Jannik Sinner in 2024 and Carlos Alcaraz in 2025.

Match Summary

“I mean, third time lucky,” de Minaur said after lifting his 11th ATP title.

“I’m so super happy. It ended up being a great week here, a place where I always feel really, really good.

“I was just a step short the previous years, so it feels great to finally be able to lift the title.”

Rotterdam Final History

Auger-Aliassime was playing his third Rotterdam final, having won the tournament in 2020 (vs Gael Monfils) and 2022 (vs Stefanos Tsitsipas).

Elsewhere on Tour: Shelton Wins Dallas

In Texas, Ben Shelton clinched the Dallas Open title with a comeback victory over compatriot Taylor Fritz.

What’s Next

De Minaur’s Rotterdam triumph marks his first title of the 2026 season and positions him strongly for the upcoming North American hard-court swing. For Auger-Aliassime, runner-up finishes in both Montpellier and Rotterdam suggest a title breakthrough may not be far away.