Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka: Even a Stick Shoots Once a Year?
The world of professional tennis isn’t just about powerful serves and nail-biting tiebreaks; sometimes, the real drama unfolds off the court. Following a tough loss to Elena Rybakina at the WTA Finals, Aryna Sabalenka was caught letting her frustration get the better of her. In a moment of raw emotion, she was heard muttering a classic Russian expression to her team: “once a year even a stick shoots.”
For those not fluent in sassy Russian sayings, it’s a beautifully sarcastic way of calling someone’s achievement a fluke. It’s the tennis equivalent of saying a blind squirrel found a nut. Ouch. You could almost feel the sting of that comment from across the arena. It’s the kind of remark that makes you lean forward, grab your popcorn, and wait for the inevitable fallout. A rivalry was already brewing between these two powerhouses, but this little jab just tossed a gallon of gasoline on the fire.
Rybakina Takes the High Road
When the dust settled and the comment made its way to Rybakina, you might have expected a fiery response. A press conference clapback? A passive-aggressive Instagram post? Nope. In an interview, Rybakina, with the cool demeanor she’s known for, essentially shrugged it off.
“I was told about it after the match, but it was in context,” she explained. “We’ve played against Aryna several times, and more than once this year, so I don’t really dwell on it. I have good feelings towards Aryna and her team, so I don’t take it personally, even if it was directed at me directly.”
Talk about killing them with kindness. Rybakina’s response was a masterclass in diplomacy, refusing to get dragged into the mud. It was a mic-drop moment without even raising her voice. She knows they’ve split their four matches this year, two wins each. Sabalenka may lead their overall head-to-head, but Rybakina’s win at the WTA Finals was a statement. And her calm, collected response? That was the exclamation point.
Record Prize Money and a Season to Remember
Let’s not forget what was on the line. By winning the WTA Finals undefeated, Rybakina didn’t just walk away with bragging rights; she pocketed a record-breaking $5.23 million. That’s more than the prize for winning some Grand Slams. When asked about this massive payday, Rybakina again showed her thoughtful, big-picture perspective.
“I think we’re aiming for more tournaments to increase their prize pools,” she said. “The previous generation’s struggle to raise the prize money has now begun to bear fruit.” She acknowledged the huge sum but framed it as a positive step for the entire sport, a sign that women’s tennis is moving in the right direction. It’s hard not to respect that level of maturity.
This victory capped a rollercoaster season for Rybakina. She finished as World No. 5 with a solid 59-19 record and an insane $8.4 million in prize money for the year. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, with some early-season struggles and off-court drama involving her coach. But she silenced the doubters where it counts: on the court, with a massive trophy in hand.
So, was Rybakina’s win a fluke, a one-off shot from a “stick”? The scoreboard, the bank account, and her trophy cabinet would suggest otherwise. Sabalenka might be feeling the burn of a tough loss, but Rybakina is walking away with the win, the cash, and the moral high ground. And in the game of tennis, that’s what you call a grand slam.
