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Elena Rybakina admitted that she was "disappointed" with how the WTA handled the Stefano Vukov situation and the verdict they made.
On Tuesday, the news broke out that the Kazakh's coach was found guilty of breaching the WTA's conduct policy and that his ban was upheld.
While the association didn't reveal its findings or the length of the suspension, a report from The Athletic said it was a one-year ban.
Today - less than 24 hours after the Vukov news came out - Rybakina played her Doha round-of-16 match and beat Rebecca Sramkova 7-6 (1) 6-2.
To no one's surprise, she was asked afterward about the 37-year-old coach not being cleared by the WTA to officially return to coaching on the Tour.
"Well, I'm just disappointed with the situation, and how the process went. I'm not going to comment much on that anymore," the 25-year-old said in her post-match presser in Doha.
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Rybakina had a blunt message for reporters
The Kazakh - who had been strongly defending Vukov and insisting that she had never been mistreated by him - at one point told reporters that she "wasn't going to answer anymore" when asked if she had any new plans.
Then, she remarked: "In what way I can react in this situation?"
The 2022 Wimbledon champion may not be in the best possible position right now but insists that she will remain fully professional and do her job as best as she can.
"Well, I'm focusing on my matches, and when I go on the court I'm thinking only about the way I need to play, so I'm concentrating on myself, and also, of course, on the opponent," Rybakina said.
"Definitely it's not the best time, but as I said, I'm always focusing on my matches and want to perform as best as I can."
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Meanwhile, the seventh-ranked Kazakh plays against either Iga Swiatek or Linda Noskova next in Doha.
