The WTA has had the rule about ‘performance byes’ in place since 2009, and they’ve used it in some tournaments at their discretion since then. These byes can be given to players who did well in a preceding tournament, regardless of their seeding. However, If the rule comes at the expense of a more deserving player, then it could be construed as a bias.
A similar episode has come to light in next week’s Toray Pan Pacific Open being held in Tokyo, Japan, where Elena Rybakina has been impacted negatively by this rule. Elena had already been critical of WTA for late-night matches and scheduling concerns. Now, she’s lashing out again, this time about including ‘performance byes’ at the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo.
Maria Sakkari and Caroline Garcia, who reached the semi-finals of the just concluded Guadalajara Open, are the 4th and 5th seeds, respectively in Tokyo. They are receiving first-round byes due to their performance in Guadalajara, where Sakkari won the title.
Elena Rybakina, who didn’t get bye despite being ranked higher than Sakkari and Garcia: https://t.co/bIWrAKQQtN pic.twitter.com/rlqHfVHIUO
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 23, 2023
Rybakina, seeded 3rd in the tournament, isn’t getting a bye and must face Czech teenager Linda Noskova, who has a career-high ranking of 50, in the first round. Rybakina expressed her frustration on her Instagram story. With a screenshot of the Tokyo draw, she captioned her story, “Thank you for changing the rules at the last moment. Great decisions as always, WTA,” along with a sarcastic clapping emoji.
Fans irked by WTA’s decision
Tennis fans have been equally dismissive of WTA’s ‘performance byes’ rule, which seems to lack transparency being of a discretionary nature. One fan hit out WTA stating, “Fu*k your performance byes. You get your byes by your seed and the seed is already performance-based??? Bffr”
F* your performance byes. You get your byes by your seed and seed are already performance based??? Bffr https://t.co/f2IsW6d2P8
— DenizTheTennis (@denizthetenis) September 23, 2023
Another ridiculed the governing body for the injustice meted out to Rybakina, who said, “Elena does not deserve the short end of the stick AGAIN. No bye for the third seed. Crazy!”
Elena does not deserve the short end of the stick AGAIN. No bye for the third seed. Crazy!
— ThisGuyKyHasAI (@NoVaxAllFacts) September 23, 2023
Rybakina believes that because of her ranking being higher than Garcia and Sakkari, she should have received a first-round bye as the 3rd seed at the WTA 500 event. On the eve of the tournament, she seems to have a very valid point in expressing her displeasure about being unfairly treated.
Tennis influencer joins the chorus
Elena Rybakina received backing from social media and tennis influencer Rachel Stuhlmann after she criticized the WTA for her draw at the 2023 Toray Pan Pacific Open. Rachel Stuhlmann strongly supported Rybakina on social media.
In her direct aim at WTA, Stuhlmann said, “Wtf lol. The intention behind the idea of a ‘performance bye’ is nice, but it’s poorly executed. I don’t know what the answer is, but it’s not taking the bye away from the #3 seed (who earned the bye).”
Wtf lol. The intention behind the idea of “performance bye” is nice, but poorly executed. Idk what the answer is, but it’s not taking the bye away from the # 3 seed (who earned the bye).🤦🏻♀️🤯 https://t.co/tggBHKeqfE
— Rachel Stuhlmann (@rstuhlmann) September 24, 2023
While appreciating the good intention behind the idea of ‘performance byes,’ she criticized how it was implemented. Stuhlmann argued that taking away Rybakina’s rightfully earned bye was not the correct decision by the apex body of tennis.