Tennis News Roundup: Elena Rybakina sparks controversy at WTA Finals after coach Vukov's ban; Carlos Alcaraz booed at ATP Finals while Novak Djokovic withdraws in controversial update

After winning the year-end championship, Elena Rybakina refused to pose alongside WTA CEO Portia Archer over the organization's ban on her coach Stefano Vukov earlier this year. Fans at Turin’s Piazza Castello booed Carlos Alcaraz ahead of the ATP Finals.

Meanwhile, fans online dissed Novak Djokovic for his late withdrawal from the year-end event, thus complicating things for Lorenzo Musetti. Another section of netizens slammed Aryna Sabalenka for saying that Rybakina's win over her in the WTA Finals title clash was a fluke. Caroline Wozniacki revealed that her husband, David Lee, once carved out a routine around her matches during a tournament.

On that note, let's explore the stories of the day:

#1. Elena Rybakina snubs CEO at WTA Finals, addresses ban on her coach Stefano Vukov

WTA Finals 2025 - Final Singles - Source: Getty

Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) to win the 2025 WTA Finals on Saturday, November 8. During the presentation ceremony, the Kazakh refused to get photographed with WTA CEO Portia Archer.

When asked about it in the press conference, Rybakina mentioned the WTA imposing a ban on her coach, Stefano Vukov, earlier this year, adding that the governing body did not communicate enough.

"I think we're all doing our job and we had the opportunity to have conversations but in the end, it never happened, so we're all doing our job, and I think we're going to keep it this way," Rybakina said (via France 24).

Days before the 2025 Australian Open, the WTA announced a one-year ban for Vukov for allegedly breaching its code of conduct. There were reports that he regularly misbehaved with Rybakina. After an appeal, the ban was lifted in August.

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#2. Carlos Alcaraz gets booed by fans in Turin ahead of ATP Finals 2025

Six of the eight ATP Finals participants reached Piazza Castello to meet their fans on Friday, November 7. The six players were Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur. Novak Djokovic's last-minute withdrawal allowed both Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti to qualify, though they arrived in Turin later.

To the surprise of many, a video surfaced on the internet showing a few fans booing Carlos Alcaraz outside the hotel, apparently calling him 'stupid.'

In his first group-stage match, the Spaniard defeated de Minaur 7-6(5), 6-2 on Sunday. He will face Musetti and Fritz before the semifinals begin.

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#3. Fans blast Novak Djokovic over late ATP Finals participation decision

On Friday, Novak Djokovic won his semifinal clash of the Hellenic Championship in Athens and said he would decide on his ATP Finals participation only after completing the tournament. On Saturday, he defeated Lorenzo Musetti to win the ATP 250 event and soon announced his withdrawal from the year-end championship.

Musetti was required to win the Hellenic Championship to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime for the last ATP Finals spot. However, the Serb's withdrawal saw both Auger-Aliassime and Musetti qualify for the prestigious tournament.

Fans online called out Djokovic, arguing that had he announced his decision sooner, Musetti would not have had to play in Athens.

"Djokovic forcing Musetti to play Athens for no reason, using up tons of injury and killing chances of doing anything in Turin, also messing up the groups by withdrawing after the draw ceremony, just a typical Djokovic move," one fan wrote. "Surprise surprise 🙄 shoulder injury 🙄 🤣 Felix and Lorenzo both deserve their place and Lorenzo shouldn't have had to play this week if Novak had no intention of playing the finals... one word for his behaviour...pathetic!!!," another fan chimed in. "So Musetti really didn't have to wear himself out and add another L to his losing Finals record, huh? Hysterical," weighed in yet another fan.

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#4. Fans slam Aryna Sabalenka for allegedly disrespecting Elena Rybakina at WTA Finals

WTA Finals 2025 - Final Singles - Source: Getty

Aryna Sabalenka's hunt for her maiden WTA Finals title continues. On Saturday, she lost the summit clash to Elena Rybakina in straight sets. Both players reached the final undefeated.

A video soon appeared on the internet, showing the World No. 1 talking to her teammates while weeping. Fans noted that she was speaking in Russian and apparently said that the Kazakh's win was a fluke. The translated text read:

"Once a year, even a stick shoots."

Tennis fans were furious with Sabalenka's comments and called her out for her lack of sportsmanship.

"Dude when will she stop acting like this? you’re world #1 and you win a lot every year. be respectful the one time people beat you," one fan wrote. "She is a really sore loser. She always feels entitled. She always thinks that it is her right to win thé big tournaments," another said. "Why do Saba fans drag Iga as a bad loser when she's the worst loser on tour and has proven it multiple times this year? She should be used to losing big finals by now with all the experience she's had," a user wrote.

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#5. Caroline Wozniacki says her husband David Lee "forced" her to follow a routine at a Major

Appearing on Sam Querry and John Isner's "The Nothing Major" podcast, Caroline Wozniacki recently revealed how her husband and former NBA player David Lee once made her follow a routine. The Dane won her sole Grand Slam title at the 2018 Australian Open.

When the hosts asked her if she was 'high-maintenance' on the tour, Wozniacki mentioned a couple of points before narrating how her husband forced her to follow a routine in Melbourne.

"David was high maintenance. This is a funny story. So, in Australia when I won the Australian Open, in the second round, I was down a set and 5-1 and 40-15, she was serving. I was down match points. I ended up winning the match somehow turning it around, winning it and since that day, David is like, 'Okay, so the night before matches, we always have to go to Coco's,' you know, the Japanese restaurant. He was kind of forcing me to go," Caroline Wozniacki said. (23:20) "And then after your match, we always have to go to the steakhouse. So then that became the routine of David always saying, all right, the night before your matches, we always have to eat at the same place," she added.

Wozniacki had defeated Simona Halep to win the 2018 Australian Open.

Edited by Parag Jain