Andy Roddick slams ‘circus show’ of ‘selfish’ coach Stefano Vukov for inserting himself in Elena Rybakina’s story

The WTA has reportedly banned Stefano Vukov for one year, as he was found guilty of mentally abusing Elena Rybakina.

Andy Roddick slams ‘circus show’ of ‘selfish’ coach Stefano Vukov for inserting himself in Elena Rybakina’s story

Stefano Vukov, Andy Roddick, Elena Rybakina (Images via X/Tennis365)

Elena Rybakina is embroiled in controversy because of the coaching drama. WTA’s intervention wasn’t what Rybakina wanted and after the conclusion of the investigation, Stefano Vukov is handed a ban and if reports are to be believed, then he is prohibited from coaching for one year.

The WTA didn’t reveal details about the investigation. But The Athletic reported that WTA CEO Portia Archer, in a letter to Vukov, called the relationship he has with Rybakina ‘toxic’; that he subjected the Kazakh ace to mental abuse and harassed her when she fired him last year. Andy Roddick wants the conversation in the tennis world to be about talented players like Rybakina and said Vukov is stealing the spotlight from her.

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At the end of the day, that’s what we want to be focusing on, not this circus show of a dude who is inserting himself into the conversation.

Andy Roddick said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast

Roddick also censured Vukov for Goran Ivanisevic‘s decision to quit Rybakina’s team. As Novak Djokovic‘s former coach was reportedly blindsided by Rybakina’s decision to re-hire Vukov and found his job challenging in the midst of the controversy, he left her team right after her Australian Open exit.

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Like, I don’t know, if you’re with someone and you care about that person and they have one of the best coaches in the world agreeing to work with them, it’s kind of selfish to put yourself in the middle of all that and have proximity in putting this out and making yourself part of the story.

Andy Roddick added

Elena Rybakina knocked out of Qatar Open

Elena Rybakina was participating in the ongoing Qatar Open when the news about Stefano Vukov‘s ban broke out. Rybakina, disappointed with WTA’s verdict, chose not to say what she thinks about the whole situation.

Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek
Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek (Images via WTA/X)

She instead prepared for the quarterfinal match she set up with Iga Swiatek after her straight-set win over Rebecca Sramkova. Rybakina, who was 3-4 in head-to-head against Swiatek before the match, was no match for the Pole in the first set, winning just two games.

The 25-year-old did try to make her comeback in the second set but in the end, last year’s Qatar Open finalist got knocked out of the tournament with scores of 6-2, 7-5. Swiatek, who is chasing her fourth consecutive Qatar Open title, is scheduled to lock horns with Jelena Ostapenko in the semifinal on Friday (February 14).

While the World No.2 inched closer to her first title of the season, Rybakina will start her training for the Dubai Open. The season’s second WTA 1000 event starts on February 16.