The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has levied serious allegations against the currently suspended ex-coach of world-class player Elena Rybakina. Among other things, the coach is charged to harass and bring about violations of current number seven in the world rankings.
As the WTA explained in an official message, Stefano Vukov, coach of the Kazakh professional player Elena Rybakina, remains closed until further notice. The association did not provide information on the duration of the lock, according to “The Athletic” the coach is pulled out of circulation for twelve months.
The long lock is the result of an extensive examination by external investigators who have uncovered Vukov’s serious misconduct.
Ivanisevic explains a farewell to Vukov
As a reminder: Shortly before the US Open 2024, Rybakina announced the separation from Vukov after five years. Previously, the trainer was repeatedly criticized for his handling of Kazakhin. Many already accused him of serious misconduct there. Ultimately, this also led to the beginning of the examination by the WTA.
In early 2025, Rybakina suddenly brought the trainer back to her team. Goran Ivanisevic, who at that time main coach, took his hat a little later. According to “The Athletic”, because the situation in the team by Vukov was intolerable.
Although the investigation against Vukov was running at the time of the Australian Open 2025 and he was temporarily closed, Rybakina planned to provide the trainer with admission tickets in order to see her matches live in the stadium. It is not known whether this plan was implemented. During the tournament, however, the Kazachin repeatedly indicated that she disagreed with the lock.
Tennis coach is said to have brought about injuries
The WTA in turn had no other choice because the coach’s misconduct weighs hard, as is now the case. Officially, it is not known what the investigators have found out over the past few months. “The Athletic” writes of extremely serious offenses.
For example, Vukov Rybakina is said to have bothered at the US Open 2024 and in the weeks afterwards and refused to leave the 25-year-old alone. He thus ignored the contact ban imposed by the WTA.
To this end, Vukov repeatedly describes his former protégé as “stupid” and told her at an opportunity if he was not there, “she would still harvest potatoes in Russia”.
In addition, the trainer is said to have claimed the player physically and mentally that she was repeatedly injured or sick and had to cancel tournaments. It fits that the Kazakhin in 2024 either had to either stop numerous tournaments or didn’t even come.
Tennis star maintained a “toxic relationship”
To make matters worse, the WTA examination came to the conclusion that Rybakina and Vukov led a romantic relationship. So both are said to have stayed in Melbourne in the same hotel room. According to WTA statement, this does not change the fact that the coach has broken the code of conduct.
“For me it is clear that it is a toxic relationship,” wrote WTA boss Portia Archer in a letter to Vukov, the content of which should never actually come to the public.