Elena Rybakina manages awkward Eisenhower Cup award presentation

Mar 5, 2026 - 02:00

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Elena Rybakina manages awkward Eisenhower Cup award presentation

In case you missed it, Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz repeated as Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles tennis champions at Indian Wells on Tuesday night.

Rybakina and Fritz affectionately called “FritzBakina” played outstanding tennis with their bread and butter strong serving to defeat Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien.

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In the celebratory moments after their win, Rybakina proved skilled at handling an awkward situation with the camera shining brightly upon her.

Rybakina quietly moves David Renker’s hand from her waist

Rybakina and Fritz were presented a $200,000 check and individual trophies to commemorate the win. David Renker, Senior Vice Present of Eisenhower Health was beside Rybakina during the check presentation. He put his hand around her waist for the photos.

Renker presented Elena Rybakina with her trophy and once again put his hand around her waist for photos. She adeptly used her hand to remove his arm.

An ironic situation

This is telling and ironic behavior given that Rybakina was thought by many to be mistreated by her coach Stefano Vukov. Vukov was suspended by the WTA and many surrounding the game surmised mistreatment was occurring though Rybakina spoke out to the contrary.

At the time, Rybakina said that people who did not know her were speculating about what they believed was an inappropriate relationship between Vukov and Rybakina. In the end, Vukov’s suspension was dropped, and he rejoined her team at the second half of 2025.

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Rybakina played better, freer, and more relaxed when Vukov returned. She went on a winning streak during the fall Asian swing that allowed her to qualify for the WTA Finals. Rybakina went into the WTA Finals as a massive underdog because of all of the tennis she had to play to qualify while her peers were resting prior to the tournament.

Elena Rybakina practices duriing the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., on Monday, March 2, 2026.

She won the WTA Finals and kept the momentum going to win January’s Australian Open. Rybakina is in peak tennis form and also showed everyone last night that she can take care of herself quietly and diplomatically in an awkward situation.