Elena Rybakina, currently ranked number seven in the world, expressed her disappointment after the WTA upheld the ban against her former coach, Stefano Vukov, following an independent investigation into his behavior. Vukov had been provisionally suspended in January after allegations that he violated the WTA’s Code of Conduct.
On Tuesday, the WTA confirmed that Vukov’s ban would remain in place. After her victory over Rebecca Sramkova at the Qatar Open on Wednesday, Rybakina shared her frustration with the situation, saying, “I’m just disappointed with the situation, and how the process went. I’m not going to comment much more.” She emphasized that her focus is on her matches, and when on court, she is solely thinking about her performance.
The WTA has not disclosed the specific details of Vukov’s breach of conduct or the duration of his ban, but the investigation appears to be related to how he communicated with Rybakina both on and off the court. The 37-year-old coach was instrumental in Rybakina’s 2022 Wimbledon victory, but their five-year partnership ended just days before the 2024 US Open in August.
The decision means Rybakina cannot rehire Vukov, as she had hoped to do earlier this year. Vukov has denied any wrongdoing, insisting last month that he had “never abused anyone.” Rybakina also confirmed at this year’s Australian Open that she had never lodged any complaints about him.
Although the WTA has not revealed how long Vukov’s suspension will last, he does have the option to appeal the decision. In the meantime, Rybakina briefly worked with Goran Ivanisevic, the former coach of Novak Djokovic, on a trial basis, but he left her team after she was eliminated in the fourth round of the Australian Open.