ESPN faced a backlash from tennis fans after posting a graphic celebrating Elena Rybakina's US Open title, with viewers fixating on an oddly placed tennis ball in the image rather than the achievement itself.
The Kazakhstani world No. 1 beat Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in Saturday's final to capture the trophy after an impressive season. ESPN captioned its graphic: 'Elena Rybakina wins her third career Major title, her first at the US Open.'
The image combined two photos, one of Rybakina striking a forehand and another of her celebrating with a fist pump. The tennis ball from the forehand shot landed on the right side of her chest at nipple height in the finished graphic, and fans were quick to notice.
Fans mock the photo online
'Why would they put the tennis ball there,' wrote one user in a post that generated more than 1,200 likes. Another asked: 'Could they not move the tennis ball...' while a third replied: 'Nice placement of the tennis ball. I see what you did there espn.'
Rybakina's run to the title
Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion, was appearing in her first final at Flushing Meadows. She relied on her serve and groundstrokes to overcome Sabalenka, the reigning champion, denying her a bid for back-to-back US Open crowns. The win secured the third Grand Slam title of Rybakina's career.
What Rybakina said after the match
Speaking after the final, Rybakina said the win felt amazing and that it was still difficult to process everything that had happened over the past few weeks.
'I feel like the match was so close. Even first set I got early break. Then it was kind of a little bit easier to step in, to be aggressive.'
She added that Sabalenka had played the important moments more aggressively in the second set, but that she told herself in the third set that she could still win it by focusing on her serve and taking more risks when the chances came.
