Andy Roddick has recently voiced his strong opinions on the controversy surrounding Elena Rybakina and her coach, Stefano Vukov. The former world No. 1 criticized Vukov for his role in the end of Rybakina’s partnership with Goran Ivanisevic, whom Roddick described as “one of the best coaches in the world.”
Rybakina and Vukov’s relationship, which lasted from February 2019 until August 2024, ended amid reports of Vukov’s “mental abuse” of Rybakina. Following their split, Rybakina hired Ivanisevic for the 2024 Australian Open, but Vukov returned to her team shortly after, leading to Ivanisevic’s departure.
The WTA has since banned Vukov from coaching Rybakina in an official capacity due to a breach of their code of conduct. Roddick, speaking on his podcast ‘Served with Andy Roddick,’ called Vukov’s actions “selfish” and criticized him for inserting himself back into Rybakina’s team just as she was starting fresh with Ivanisevic.
Roddick expressed hope that Rybakina would be happy and clear-headed in her decisions moving forward, emphasizing her exceptional talent as a player. Despite the controversy, Rybakina continues to perform strongly in tournaments, recently reaching the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.
The situation has drawn significant attention, with many in the tennis community discussing the impact of coaching relationships on players’ careers and well-being. As Rybakina prepares for her upcoming matches, the focus remains on her performance and future prospects in the sport.
Elena Rybakina in 2025
Currently ranked no.7, Elena played her last match on the 13th of February when she was overcome by world no.2 Iga Swiatek 6-2 7-5 in the quarter in Doha (draw).
During this season Rybakina owns an overall 10-4 match record. Elena Rybakina’s most significant performance of the present year was getting to the semifinal in Australia and Abu Dhabi.
Rybakina will compete next in Dubai (Dubai Duty Free Championships). She will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 17th of February.