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Elena Rybakina says Stefano Vukov “never mistreated” her after the WTA suspended her former coach pending a code of conduct investigation.
Rybakina, who lost 7-6(5), 6-4 at the United Cup semifinals in the latest instalment of her thrilling head-to-head with world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, told a news conference in Sydney that she was “not happy” with the situation.
“I’m not happy with the comments which I see, especially from the people who are on the tour. It’s active coaches, commentators. I don’t think that it’s fair,” the 25-year-old Kazakh said.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, split with Vukov on the eve of the 2024 U.S. Open but announced her intention to bring him back to her team on social media January 1.
As exclusively reported by The Athletic January 2, Vukov is barred from coaching while under investigation, and Tennis Australia will not issue him with an accreditation for the Australian Open, which begins January 12. He would not be able to enter practice courts or Rybakina’s box at the Australian Open, or any other event.
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Elena Rybakina’s former coach Stefano Vukov suspended by WTA under code of conduct investigation
Vukov denies breaching the WTA’s Code of Conduct and Rybakina has told the WTA that she does not consider his conduct abusive, according to a representative briefed on the investigation, who like all the sources in this story spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships within tennis. The WTA launched its investigation — conducted by an independent organization — last year after complaints were made about Vukov’s conduct, described as intense and, at times, harsh by others within the sport.
“The WTA can confirm that Stefano Vukov is currently under a provisional suspension pending an independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct,” a WTA spokesperson said in a statement January 2.
Sources in direct contact with Rybakina say that her options if he is barred from coaching her extend from buying him stadium tickets to boycotting events or even the entire WTA Tour. In the news conference January 4, she said that “there is a lot of things we can do outside of the court too,” regarding the nature of Vukov’s possible collaboration.
The WTA’s decision on the investigation is expected in the coming days.
Goran Ivanisevic, who was blindsided by Rybakina’s announcement of Vukov’s return according to sources at her recent events and briefed on the investigation into Vukov, was in Kazakhstan’s corner for her match against Swiatek.
“I’m working with Goran. I’m happy the way we work now for the couple of weeks,” Rybakina said.
Rybakina will now move on to Melbourne to prepare for the first Grand Slam of the year, after Poland defeated Kazakhstan 3-0 in the tie in which she lost to Swiatek.
(Andy Cheung / Getty Images)
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