Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, received a significant boost ahead of the 2025 US Open as her longtime coach, Stefano Vukov, was cleared to return to the WTA Tour after successfully appealing a one-year suspension. The WTA’s decision, announced on August 8, 2025, overturns a ban imposed in February following allegations of abusive conduct toward Rybakina, allowing Vukov to resume coaching and access player areas at tournaments. The ruling, which followed a private arbitration process, marks a turning point in a saga that has sparked heated debate within the tennis community about coach-player dynamics and the WTA’s safeguarding policies. For Rybakina, the reinstatement of her trusted mentor could be the catalyst for a strong finish to a challenging season.
The controversy began in August 2024, when Rybakina parted ways with Vukov just before the US Open, ending a five-year partnership that saw her rise from outside the top 100 to world number three and claim the 2022 Wimbledon title. The split followed concerns raised by players, coaches, and commentators, including Pam Shriver, about Vukov’s intense coaching style, which some described as crossing into verbal abuse. The WTA launched an investigation, and in January 2025, Vukov was provisionally suspended, with a formal one-year ban issued on January 31 for “abuse of authority and abusive conduct.” Reports detailed allegations of Vukov calling Rybakina “stupid” and claiming she’d “still be picking potatoes in Russia” without him, prompting WTA chief executive Portia Archer to label their relationship “toxic.” Vukov’s actions post-split, including sending over 100 calls and texts to Rybakina and appearing at her hotel, raised safety concerns among her team.
Despite the allegations, Rybakina has consistently defended Vukov. “I said it already before that he never mistreated me or it was never anything like that,” she stated at the United Cup in January 2025, expressing frustration with the WTA’s process. Her decision to rehire Vukov before the Australian Open, announced via Instagram, shocked many, including her then-coach Goran Ivanisevic, who parted ways with her after a fourth-round loss to Madison Keys in Melbourne. Rybakina’s loyalty to Vukov, with whom she reportedly shares a romantic relationship, has been a focal point of the saga. “I’m just disappointed with the situation, and how the process went,” she said after a Qatar Open win, emphasizing her focus on tennis amid the controversy.
Vukov’s appeal, initiated before the French Open and culminating in a hearing before Wimbledon, resulted in the WTA lifting his suspension. “The WTA is fully committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all athletes and other participants,” the WTA stated, confirming Vukov’s eligibility to receive credentials without disclosing further details due to the confidentiality of the arbitration process. Rybakina’s current coach, Davide Sanguinetti, who joined her team in February, has maintained a collaborative relationship with Vukov. “Vukov and Elena are close, he will always be there,” Sanguinetti told Italian media, noting their alignment. Rybakina’s Strasbourg title in May, her first in over a year, saw her thank both Vukov and Sanguinetti, revealing their off-site collaboration during the ban.
Rybakina’s 2025 season has been a mix of promise and setbacks. A semifinal run at the Canadian Open, where she fell to Victoria Mboko, and a fourth-round exit at Roland Garros to Iga Swiatek highlight her potential but also her struggles with health and consistency. “This is definitely not the start to the season I used to have before,” she admitted in Strasbourg, citing recurring illnesses linked to the intense schedule. With Vukov now cleared to return, Rybakina, ranked world number 10, faces Renata Zarazua in the Cincinnati Open’s second round, aiming to build momentum for New York. The reinstatement has sparked mixed reactions, with some fans calling it “irresponsible” and others viewing it as a victory for Rybakina’s autonomy. As she prepares for the US Open, where she reached the quarterfinals in 2023, Rybakina’s partnership with Vukov—both controversial and transformative—remains central to her quest for another Grand Slam crown.
Leave a Reply