Elena Rybakina spoke out over Stefano Vukov’s ban. (Image: Getty.)
has come out in defence of her coach Stefano Vukov after the Croatian was reportedly suspended by the and barred from obtaining accreditation for the upcoming .
say the WTA has confirmed that for a breach of the tour’s Code of Conduct.
Just days prior to the ban, Rybakina re-hired Vukov to work alongside Goran Ivanisevic, and she has since spoken out regarding the controversy surrounding her coach.
“Well, I’m working with Goran, and these articles came out, I mean, I can only say and I said it already before that he never mistreated me or it was never anything like that,” Rybakina said at the United Cup.
“I mean, I’m working with Goran. I’m happy the way we work now for the couple of weeks. As I also said, that Stefano is rejoining the team because I know the person for six years, and there is a lot of things we can do outside of the court too. Of course I’m not really 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.
Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov working together at Wimbledon. (Image: Getty)
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“The only thing I can say is, like, he never mistreated me. I have respect to him for everything he did from the very beginning when I was ranked 200.. all the way what we did, like, I don’t know. You can name me other coaches who had the same success with players who have been 200 and then winning a Grand Slam and being in the top.”
Rybakina ended her five-year-long partnership with Vukov ahead of the 2024 , only to hire him once again this week despite complaints made about the 37-year-old’s conduct.
Vukov was not interviewed as part of the WTA’s investigation and denies breaking the code and, in a statement to The Athletic, said: “Definitely never abused anyone.”
No complaint was launched by Rybakina, who instead has issued a staunch defence of Vukov, but she will not have him in her corner at the first Grand Slam of the year.
With Tennis Australia set to follow the WTA’s lead, Vukov unable to gain accreditation for the Australian Open means that he will not be able to attend the grounds, sit in the player’s box or accompany Rybakina to practice courts.
Instead Ivanisevic, who previously worked with , is set to coach the world No. 6 in Melbourne as she bids for the second Major win of her career.