There have been fresh allegations regarding Elena Rybakina’s treatment by her former coach. After working with Stefan Vukov for five years, the 2022 Wimbledon champion parted ways with him in August.
For tennis fans, the announcement—which came the night before the US Open this year—was shocking. Vukov had frequently courted controversy during their partnership with his violent behaviour during matches, but the 25-year-old had frequently defended her mentor in public.
However, since the Flushing Meadows tournament, there has been growing speculation that Vukov has been prohibited from participating in WTA Tour events on a private basis. Although Rybabinka has declined to address the rumours, Rennae Stubbs, an Australian coach, has now commented.
Stubbs talked about it and said: “You guys know, if you have listened to our podcast, I had my feelings and my thoughts when it came to Elena Rybakina’s coach. I thought he was not a good element. When I’m playing a match, I don’t want to see my coach gesturing, looking all pissed off up there. And there’s been some coaches of late that I’m like, ‘Why do these players allow these coaches to look like this?’ Because you need a positive influence around you when you’re looking up there.”
She added: “Now, off the court, in a way he might be the greatest guy in the world to her, I don’t know. But when it comes to being her coach, I saw way too many things of him yelling at her in the gym; other players have said stuff to me. When she would win matches, he was giving her s**t. This is what other people saw. There’s 25 other people that could see the same thing I was seeing.”
Elena Rybakina in 2024
Now the world no.4, the Kazakhstani played her last match on the 27th of August when she overcame world no.180 Destanee Aiava 6-1 7-6(1) in the 1st round of the U.S. Open (draw).
At the moment, during this season Rybakina has managed to achieve an overall 41-9 win-loss record. Elena conquered 3 titles in 2024 in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart. Elena reached the final in Doha and Miami.
Elena Rybakina |
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