Serena Williams’ ex-coach believes Goran Ivanisevic will not accept a “dysfunctional relationship” with Elena Rybakina after Stefano Vukov’s return
Elena Rybakina parted ways with Croatian coach Stefano Vukov ahead of the 2024 US Open but rehired him before the 2025 Australian Open.
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Goran Ivanisevic, Elena Rybakina, Stefano Vukov (Images via X)
Rennae Stubbs doesn’t think coach Goran Ivanisevic will have a long partnership with Elena Rybakina after the Kazakh ace rehired Stefano Vukov. Rybakina parted ways with Vukov ahead of the 2024 US Open and there were reports of her dealing with psychological pressure due to his harsh behavior.
Vukov’s joining Rybakina’s team shocked the tennis community as fans and pundits still can’t fathom the reason why, four months after the split, Rybakina decided to collaborate with Vukov again.
Although Rybakina has added Vukov to her team, WTA has confirmed that the 37-year-old Croatian coach has been serving a provisional suspension because of allegations of breaching the WTA Code of Conduct. The WTA, however, didn’t divulge much on the subject as the investigation is still going on.
Ivanisevic, who is coaching a WTA player for the first time, reportedly had no idea about Rybakina’s plan about rehiring Vukov. During an interview with Bounces, Novak Djokovic‘s former coach told renowned tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg that he would ‘talk about everything’ after WTA’s investigation as he thinks the situation is ‘strange’.
Ivenisevic however has spoken to Rybakina about what he thinks about Vukov joining her team again. Serena Williams‘ former coach Stubbs, is convinced that Ivanisevic won’t accept being a part of this situation.
It’s clear that she’s having a hard time dealing with whatever relationship she has with him (Vukov) and she wants him back. I can tell you right now that Goran is not going to accept that. Absolutely not. If you want to be in a dysfunctional relationship, that’s your problem, but for someone like Goran, he’s not going to stick around for that.
Rennae Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast
Omg
— Sebastien G. (@sebsharfam2) January 1, 2025
Elena Rybakina announce that Vukov is back to her team
?elena / Ig stories pic.twitter.com/1b8FTeEhW3
Rennae Stubbs reveals what she heard from players about Stefano Vukov’s behavior toward Elena Rybakina
Rennae Stubbs thinks the WTA have decided to ban Stefano Vukov because they have got evidence of his conduct toward Elena Rybakina. As the tennis season for 2025 started Down Under, Stubbs said that she has heard players complaining about Vukov’s behavior toward the World No.6.
Even for me over the last week, being here in Adelaide and hearing this news, the amount of players that come up to me and be like, ‘Oh my god, you should hear the way he talks about her. You should hear the way he speaks about her.’
Rennae Stubbs said on her podcast
Rybakina recently participated in the United Cup. Her matches helped Kazakhstan reach the semifinals where they failed to beat Team Poland. Rybakina chose to play in the United Cup by skipping the Brisbane International where she lifted the title last year.
Her focus has now shifted toward the Australian Open which starts next week. The 25-year-old reached the final in Melbourne in 2023, but last year, she fell to Anna Blinkova in the second round.
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Gouri Das
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