Elena Rybakina ‘disappointed’ with WTA’s verdict of maintaining coach Stefano Vukov’s ban

Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov worked together from 2019 to 2024 before a brief split saw the latter rejoin her team in no time.

Elena Rybakina ‘disappointed’ with WTA’s verdict of maintaining coach Stefano Vukov’s ban

Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov (via Instagram)

Elena Rybakina has advanced to the 2025 Qatar Open quarterfinals. She will face Iga Swiatek in this round after defeating Rebecca Sramkova in straight sets in Doha at the second round of the tournament.

At the post-match press conference, Rybakina succinctly expressed her disappointment at the news of the suspension of her former coach Stefano Vukov. Following the conclusion of the code of conduct investigation, it was announced the WTA had banned Vukov for 12 months.

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I’m just disappointed with the situation and the way the process went. I’m not going to comment further on it. I’m focused on my matches, and when I go on court, I only think about how I have to play, so I focus on myself and also, of course, on the opponent. It’s definitely not the best moment, but as I said, I always focus on my matches, and I want to give the best of myself.

Elena Rybakina said (H/T: Tennis)

Her partnership with Stefano Vukov began in 2019, when he joined as her first traveling coach. Under his guidance, Elena Rybakina rapidly improved, rising from just inside the top 200 of the WTA rankings into the top 30 in about a year.

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Rybakina also went on to clinch her maiden Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon in 2022. After the 2024 US Open, she momentarily split with Vukov.

Stefano Vulov told Elena Rybakina that without him she would “still be in Russia picking potatoes”

Elena Rybakina later hired Novak Djokovic‘s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic ahead of the 2025 season. Djokovic had also, at the same time, announced his partnership with his former rival turned coach Andy Murray.

Elena Rybakina Stefano Vukov
Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov (via X)

Rybakina worked with Ivanisevic during the United Cup and Australian Open. However, after barely working for two months, they both parted ways towards the end of January 2025 after Rybakina’s Australian Open exit following defeat to the eventual champion of the tournament, Madison Keys.

Meanwhile, during her United Cup campaign, Rybakina announced that Vukov was rejoining her team, a decision that sparked a lot of controversy and rumours. Vukov is currently facing this suspension for allegedly breaching the WTA Code of Conduct, as he was accused of bad behavior and mental abuse towards Rybakina. Rybakina has, however, always defended Vukov and as he currently can’t coach her, she added former Italian tennis player Davide Sanguinetti to her coaching team.

Portia Archer, the chief executive of the WTA tour, issued Vukov a three-page summary in which she stated that Rybakina’s former coach had violated the WTA Tour’s code of conduct by calling Rybakina “stupid” and told her that without him she would “still be in Russia picking potatoes.”

According to those reports, Archer also mentioned how “Vukov made Rybakina cry and subjected her to mental abuse and pushing her beyond her physical limits, which caused Rybakina to become ill.” Vukov also allegedly violated “no contact” directives during a provisional suspension and was reported to have harassed Rybakina post-dismissal.