“Absolutely ridiculous”- Fans fume as Elena Rybakina shockingly rehires ex-coach Stefano Vukov for 2025 season after split last year
Elena Rybakina fired Stefano Vukov in August last year and hired Novak Djokovic's ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic.

Elena Rybakina with Stefano Vukov (Image via Reuters)
On Wednesday (January 1), Elena Rybakina announced on Instagram that she has rehired her former coach Stefano Vukov for the 2025 season. Rybakina hired Novak Djokovic‘s former coach Goran Ivanisevic after parting ways with Vukov ahead of the 2024 US Open.
Under Vukov, Rybakina reached her career-best ranking of No. 3, won the 2022 Wimbledon, and reached the final in the 2023 Australian Open. Vukov coached the Kazakh ace for five years but his coaching style was heavily criticized as he often could be seen shouting at Rybakina.
Then there were rumors that Rybakina had to deal with incessant insults and bad words which resulted in her firing Vukov. Before Rybakina’s latest announcement, there were rumors afloat that Vukov would be joining her in Melbourne to support her for the 2025 Australian Open.
Hello everyone. I am excited to announce that Stefano will be joining the team for the 2025 season. Thank you for all the support. And wishing you a great 2025.
Elena Rybakina wrote on her Instagram Story
Check out the post here:
Omg
— Sebastien G. (@sebsharfam2) January 1, 2025
Elena Rybakina announce that Vukov is back to her team
?elena / Ig stories pic.twitter.com/1b8FTeEhW3
In spite of the rumors, Rybakina never had anything bad to say about Vukov in public. She has always defended him but chose not to discuss much in detail the reasons behind their split.
Netizens shocked as Elena Rybakina adds Stefano Vukov to her team
The entire tennis world is shocked about the development as they expressed their speculations about abuse from Stefano Vukov. Some fans even alleged that Elena Rybakina is dating Vukov as a result of which she hired him again.

A few however backed her decision saying she has the right to choose with whom she wants to work, while a few think that her hiring Vukov is a disrespect to Ivenisevic, predicting that he would soon leave her team.
Check out their reactions here:
?Let's Go Team Elena ?2 coaches with fiery spirits?
— caroline (@carolin32151048) January 1, 2025
Her fans owe Vukov an apology
— ?️ (@sportsfan21224) January 1, 2025
Everyone's got to eat, and there 's plenty of money there, why not? Her other coach, Goran, the famous one, is waiting for Nole to drop Murray, or the other way around, and get a call back to the team there. Don't we just love Musical Coaches?
— YOGI MARK ROBERTS (@joyavayu) January 1, 2025
rybakina is 100% dating that nasty man and he just joined the team to have an excuse to be by her side all the time cus tennis and performance wise there’s no point for him to be there alongside goran like there’s no other explanation to me
— powershoptickets?? (@pwrshoptickets) January 1, 2025
Rybakina is like that one friend that keeps being in that toxic relationship despite all her friends telling her to break up
— Vic | #IStandWithIga (@limuzinaxd) January 1, 2025
Everyone thinking This year will be different for rybakina with new coach and everything will be better
— Hamza #63 #12 (@UTDHaMzA21) January 1, 2025
Meanwhile rybakina first day of 2025 getting back with vukov and she was like ????? pic.twitter.com/IzKoSO6rO8
What is going on? Elena & Vukov are they in a romantic relationship or just tennis?
— OrvilleLloydDouglas???️? (@OrvilleLloyd) January 1, 2025
— Armando (@libre1927) January 1, 2025
WTF !!!!!
— LadyInLondon (@LoliLondon) January 1, 2025
She lost her mind….. pic.twitter.com/81QqUuu81K
I am considering it a humbleness from Elena Rybakina to Vukov. Very nicely said and it seems she won't let anyone in her way of making decisions. Nice from Elena Rybakina. ?
— Cheshire Cat (@Boy_theCat) January 1, 2025
Absolutely ridiculous, something very dodgy is going on there
— ??♂️ (@ZippySaturn) January 1, 2025
It’s hard for some to free themselves from their abusers
— NJCaliboy (@GymFigTenFan) January 1, 2025
I think Goran will be leaving by the end of the year. Why would she bring this dude back?
— carlosalcarazfans (@alcarazgirlies) January 1, 2025
Rybakina is in Australia with head coach Goran Ivenisevic at the United Cup. She started the year on a positive note, winning the three singles matches she played. Her victories were crucial for Kazakhstan as the team reached the semifinals and are set to lock horns with Poland or Britain.
After the United Cup, Rybakina will land in Melbourne for the Australian Open where in 2024 she was eliminated in the second-round by Anna Blinkova. Rybakina, although she won three titles last year, suffered from a slump in form and multiple injuries which affected her campaign in the latter half of the season.
Gouri Das
(4823 Articles Published)