Kokkinakis forced to clarify tweet about Indian Wells winner Rybakina

Thanasi Kokkinakis had to clarify a tweet after tennis fans overreacted to a comment about Indian Wells winner Elena Rybakina.

Thanasi Kokkinakis had to clarify a tweet about Elena Rybakina. Pictures: Getty

When you have a reputation like Thanasi Kokkinakis’, it’s best to tweet carefully.

The Aussie tennis pin-up had fans overreacting when he posted a simple but sweet message about Elena Rybakina after she won the Indian Wells WTA title on Monday.

Rybakina edged Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (13-11) 6-4 to avenge her loss to the Belarusian in the Australian Open final.

“Rybakina looks like the nicest girl ever,” Kokkinakis tweeted as Rybakina accepted the trophy.

After fans ran wild in the comments, he was forced to add a few minutes later: “Not having a crack (crying laughing emoji) relaaaax.”

Not having a crack😂 relaaaax

— Thanasi Kokkinakis (@TKokkinakis) March 19, 2023

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, the world number 10 who ousted top-ranked defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, followed up with her first victory over second-ranked Sabalenka in five career meetings.

While Sabalenka had the edge from the baseline in a hard-fought battle, Rybakina’s fierce pressure saw the serve demons that beset Sabalenka last year resurface.

Her 10 double faults in the opening frame ultimately proved too much to overcome.

After fending off three break points in a marathon fourth game, she broke Rybakina to gain the advantage, but Sabalenka handed back the break with a double fault to close the eighth game.

Aryna Sabalenka was ruined by double faults. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty

She gifted Rybakina a set point with another double fault in the 12th game and while the Kazakhstan player couldn’t capitalise, she would do so finally in the tie-breaker.

Unable to convert her own two set points in the decider, Sabalenka’s 10th double fault of the set gave Rybakina her sixth set point and she took it.

Sabalenka, struggling to quell her emotions, was broken to love to open the second set and that was all the opening Rybakina needed.

The Moscow-born Kazakh saved a pair of break points to push her lead to 3-1 and, with Sabalenka in survival mode, she ripped a backhand return up the line for a break that put her ahead 5-2.

Sabalenka wouldn’t go quietly, breaking Rybakina to love and holding serve with ease with the wind at her back.

But Rybakina polished it off with confidence on her first match point when Sabalenka smacked a service return into the net.

— with AFP

Originally published as Kokkinakis forced to clarify tweet about Indian Wells winner Rybakina