Awkward moment Wimbledon champion is told she could win £162k Porsche… but reveals she doesn’t have a driving licence

The former Wimbledon champion, 24, stunned world No1 and two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals of the Stuttgart Open.

Rybakina, seeded fourth, took the opening set but was pegged back by Pole Swiatek, who beat Emma Raducanu in Friday’s quarter-final.

The Kazakhstani star then prevailed 6-3 in the decider with nearly three hours on the clock on the indoor clay in Germany – in front of three luxury Porsches behind the court.

That is because the event is sponsored by the German car manufacturer.

And that means as well as picking up 500 ranking points and £100,000 in prize money, the winner gets to drive away with a brand-new motor.

The 2024 car on offer is the Porsche Taycan Turbo S Sport Turismo, worth a cool £162,000 and able to do 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds.

But Rybakina – who will play Marta Kostyk in Sunday’s final – made a hilarious revelation during her on-court interview after dumping Swiatek out.

The interviewer asked: “You’ve got one match to go to drive off with a beautiful Porsche. You can hit the ball very fast – is this the way you drive as well?”

But a laughing Rybakina replied: “Well guys I actually don’t have a driver’s licence so that’s going to be the goal of course – I’ve wanted to get it for a long time but that is big motivation.”

She later added: “I have wanted to do it already for a long time but I’ve never have the chance to be at one place for long.

“I have already had a couple of lessons. I was driving, but yeah, for sure that’s the goal for this year outside of the court.

“And with this car, if I win, it’s going to be one double goal. Hopefully, I finish it this year.”

Her superb honest reply prompted the crowd to burst out in laughter and plenty of brilliant responses online.

One said: “Elena is too honest for her own good, isn’t she? It’s safe to say with 100k prize money she can afford a chauffeur. Goodness.”

Another wrote: “Plot twist!”

A third offered: “Happy to drive her anywhere she wants to go!”

A fourth commented: “She is so cute. Love her.”

And a final user joked: “Why even enter a tournament where you know the price is a car?”