‘They Take All the Money From Me’- 21YO WTA Star Fires Back at Critics Attacking Her Parents at Italian Open

Diana Shnaider once said, “My parents wanted me to stay healthy and try different things until I found something that really worked for me,” a testament to the unwavering support she’s received from the very start of her tennis journey. That support, radiant and ever-present, has clearly paid off. After clinching titles across all levels and leaping from outside the top 90 to finishing last year inside the WTA Top 15 ranks, the 21-year-old Russian ace openly credited her parents for nurturing her versatility as a child. But amid a recent coaching dilemma, Shnaider now shields them from a wave of fan criticism. At the Italian Open, the fearless WTA phenom is firing back, courageously defending her family against unwarranted verbal attacks.

Just a month into their coaching partnership, Diana Shnaider had ended her collaboration with former World 2nd seed Dinara Safina. The Russian youngster confirmed Safina’s absence at the WTA 1000 Rome 2025, stating that Marat Safin’s sister had returned to Barcelona for personal reasons and they were no longer working together. Safina, who retired in 2011 because of a chronic back injury, had recently re-entered the tennis world as a coach, bringing a rich legacy and insight with her.

Despite the split, Shnaider remains composed amid swirling speculation. However, as criticism has turned toward her parents in the wake of the coaching change, the 21-year-old has shown fierce loyalty, standing up for her family and proving once again she’s unshaken on and off the court.

While speaking with Daniil Salnikov for a Russian news agency recently, Diana Shnaider opened up about the details behind her unexpected coaching split with Dinara Safina, firmly defending her parents. “Just after the match in Madrid with Iga Swiatek, Dinara already informed me that she would not go to Rome with me. It was purely her decision not to come here with me,” she revealed.

The 21-year-old Russian star was also quick to address the backlash her parents have faced following the news. “That is, it was not an initiative on my part, and even more so not on the part of my parents. As everyone writes: that they take all my money. It’s just disgusting to read this. It hurts very much that people think this about my parents. In fact, I have a great relationship with them.” Her words echoed deep emotional pain, showing how personal and harmful the comments have been to her and her family.

She further elaborated on how public narratives can spiral out of control, regardless of the truth. “There will always be people who can turn any, even complete, information in the wrong direction. I don’t know where people find all this from, that they take all my money away from me, that I live without money at all and can’t find any coach for myself. I approach this issue very scrupulously. I don’t want to take any coach,” Shnaider added, signaling how cautious she is when making decisions about her career.

The coaching relationship had only just begun when it caught public attention. Last month, The Tennis Channel posted a candid video featuring Shnaider, captioned, “Diana Shnaider has hired former World No. 1 Dinara Safina as her coach How far can Dinara take Diana? .” 

Though the coaching journey with Safina was brief, Shnaider has clearly been moving forward with resilience. Alongside addressing the situation head-on, she also shared a brief update about her recent win in Italy. 

“Happy with my game,” Diana Shnaider on her recent triumph in Rome

In her R32 clash at the Rome Open, Diana Shnaider secured a straight-sets victory over Jacqueline Cristian with a 6-3, 6-3 scoreline. Despite the comfortable result, the match demanded grit, as Shnaider committed three double faults. However, her strong serving performance made the difference, winning 65% of her first-serve points and 64% on second serves. 

That consistency proved crucial as she clinched 12 games en route to the win. Following the match, the Russian shared her candid reflections on the court battle, offering insight into the effort it took to prevail despite the seemingly routine scoreline.

Talking to the same interviewer, she added, “The fight was very difficult, quite physically intense. I am happy with my game, and how I behaved, and what decisions I made today on the court, because after all, the opponent was not easy. So, in general, the match turned out to be very good today and the level of tennis I showed,”

Diana Shnaider now faces Belgian star Elise Mertens, who recently pulled off a surprise win over Jessica Pegula and currently holds a 2-0 H2H advantage over the Russian. As the two prepare to battle for a spot in the Italian Open R16, the question looms: can the Russian finally break Mertens’ hold and turn the tide in her favor?

The post ‘They Take All the Money From Me’- 21YO WTA Star Fires Back at Critics Attacking Her Parents at Italian Open appeared first on EssentiallySports.