It has been a tough start to the season for the former Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina. While the results on the court haven’t gone exactly according to her plans, she also received a major setback with her support staff. Shortly after parting ways with her ex-coach, Stefano Vukov, Rybakina decided to re-hire him this year. However, the controversial coach faced a suspension from the WTA Tour for the foreseeable future for inappropriate conduct. Amid this episode, another major update dropped about Vukov.
The two worked together when Rybakina won the Wimbledon Championships back in 2022. However, ahead of last year’s US Open, a member of Rybakina’s team told Vukov that he had been dismissed from the team and to leave Rybakina alone. The controversial coach reached Rybakina’s hotel and sent numerous text messages, and even called Rybakina several times to get back into the team again. Sure, that’s pofessional.
Apparently, he wanted to convince Elena Rybakina that her career wouldn’t thrive without him. So, a few members of Rybakina’s support staff reached out to the WTA and told the officials that they feared for the safety of the Kazakh star. Before this episode, the officials had already received multiple complaints about Vukov’s inappropriate conduct on the tour. Portia Archer, the WTA CEO stated her worry about the coach sharing rooms with the Rybakina during the Australian Open.
As a result, they opened an independent investigation and provisionally suspended Vukov from coaching. Last month, the findings were concluded and Vukov was banned from coaching for one year, having violated the WTA Tour’s code of conduct.
Elena Rybakina won the 2022 Wimbledon Championship with coach Stefano Vukov, but in the lead-up to last year’s U.S. Open the two parted ways.
Over a tumultuous two days in New York in August, Vukov was told by a member of Rybakina’s team that he had been dismissed as her coach… pic.twitter.com/PxpRh0iWfv
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 18, 2025
However, this decision didn’t go down well with Rybakina, who was disappointed with the way the findings were concluded. She said, “I’m just disappointed with the situation, and how the process went. I’m not going to comment much more. It’s not the best time, but I want to perform as best as I can.” Amid this episode, many players backed the WTA’s decision to ban Vukov. As a result, Rybakina was disappointed that no player came in support of her or Vukov.
Elena Rybakina makes a saddening confession
The former Wimbledon champion is in Dubai to participate in the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships. During an interview after her win over Moyuka Uchijima, Rybakina opened up about how the entire episode surrounding her ex-coach unfolded and the end result in this matter.
She revealed, “It’s very disappointing the way it’s been handled, just the outcome. No one offered any support. Honestly don’t need. There is couple players I’m in touch more. But to say that I have very, very close friends on tour, it’s I think not true just because we competing against each other. Everybody’s surrounded by their teams.”
Amid this controversy, Rybakina is trying to focus on the task at hand, which is to perform well in Dubai. She will face the ninth seed, Paula Badosa in the round of 16 tomorrow. It’ll be interesting to see if Rybakina can get over the controversial episode surrounding her ex-coach and dig deep at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships.
The post Flurry of “Text Messages and 100s of Calls” to Elena Rybakina Does Not Stop Stefano Vukov’s Harrowing Truth From Going Public appeared first on EssentiallySports.