As the tennis world gears up for the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers, set to kick off on April 10, 2025, in Brisbane, a storm of intrigue is brewing around Elena Rybakina. The 25-year-old Kazakhstani star, ranked among the top players globally and a former Wimbledon champion, was recently spotted training on hard courts alongside her controversial ex-coach, Stefano Vukov. This sighting, just days before she’s slated to lead Team Kazakhstan against Australia and Colombia in the qualifiers, has reignited debates about her coaching choices and the boundaries of professional tennis regulations. With Vukov currently banned from the WTA Tour, Rybakina’s decision to keep him close has turned heads and raised questions about loyalty, defiance, and the complexities of her career.
Rybakina’s journey with Vukov has been a rollercoaster of triumph and turmoil. Since teaming up in 2019, when she was a teenager barely cracking the top 200, the Croatian coach guided her to meteoric heights—most notably her 2022 Wimbledon title, a career-defining moment that showcased her powerful baseline game and steely resolve. Under his tutelage, she also claimed WTA 1000 titles in 2023 and three WTA 500 crowns in 2024, cementing her status as a force on the circuit. But their partnership wasn’t without shadows. Observers noted Vukov’s intense sideline demeanor—sharp words, animated gestures—prompting whispers of a dynamic that teetered on the edge of acceptable coaching behavior. By August 2024, the duo parted ways abruptly before the US Open, only for Rybakina to bring him back into the fold at the start of this year, a move that stunned many.
That reunion was short-lived. In January, the WTA handed Vukov a provisional suspension, followed by a one-year ban in February after an investigation concluded he’d breached the tour’s Code of Conduct. Details remain murky, but allegations of verbal abuse and overbearing conduct surfaced, painting a picture of a relationship that some called toxic. Rybakina, however, has stood firm. “He never mistreated me,” she insisted earlier this year, her voice unwavering as she dismissed the claims as overblown. “I don’t agree with a lot of things the WTA do in the sense of my relationship with Stefano.” Her loyalty to Vukov, who she credits for shaping her into a Grand Slam champion, has been a lightning rod—admired by some as a testament to her gratitude, criticized by others as a refusal to see the bigger picture.
The latest twist came this week when photos emerged of Rybakina and Vukov together at a private facility, her racket slicing through the air as she prepares for the hard-court battles ahead in Brisbane. The Billie Jean King Cup’s new round-robin format pits Kazakhstan in Group D, with the winner advancing to the Finals in Shenzhen later this year. Vukov’s ban bars him from official tournament sites—practice courts, player boxes, the works—but it doesn’t stop him from working with Rybakina off-site. This loophole has sparked a firestorm among fans and insiders. “Well, I think the most difficult thing is that you expect a lot from yourself,” Rybakina once said, reflecting on the pressures she faces. “When something doesn’t go your way, you’re getting upset. This is where it’s important who you surround yourself with.” For her, that circle still includes Vukov, ban or no ban.
Her 2025 season has been a mixed bag. A fourth-round exit at the Australian Open under new coach Goran Ivanisevic—who split with her shortly after, citing off-court complications—marked a rocky start. Injuries and illness plagued her 2024 campaign, yet she’s clawed her way back into the top 10. Now, with Davide Sanguinetti as her official coach (and reportedly in touch with Vukov), Rybakina seems intent on tuning out the noise. The Brisbane qualifiers loom as a chance to prove her mettle, but the shadow of Vukov’s presence adds an extra layer of drama. Will it fuel her focus or fracture her resolve?
For Team Kazakhstan, Rybakina is the linchpin, her big serves and unrelenting groundstrokes key to their hopes against formidable foes like Australia. Yet, the tennis world can’t look away from the sidelines, where Vukov’s influence persists despite the WTA’s edict. Some see defiance in her stance—a player sticking to her guns in a sport that often demands conformity. Others worry she’s tethered to a past that could hold her back. As she drills on those hard courts, the message is clear: Rybakina is playing by her own rules, and with the qualifiers fast approaching, she’s betting on herself—and her banned ex-coach—to steer her toward victory once more. The court will tell the tale, but for now, the spotlight burns brighter than ever.
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