Elena Rybakina has spoken openly about the presence of coach Stefano Vukov back in her box during the U.S. Open, a reunion that has drawn attention following his suspension earlier in the season. Despite the controversy surrounding his past conduct, Rybakina made it clear that their relationship has always been built on mutual understanding and trust.
Communication remains strong
“I never had any issues with him. For me it’s just nice to see him in the box. We always had good communication,” Rybakina said when asked about the impact of Vukov’s return. Her calm and composed response reflected a sense of stability within her team, something she has been seeking after a turbulent stretch of coaching changes.
Stability boosts performance
Rybakina’s recent performances suggest that the return of familiar support has had a positive effect. She cruised past Emma Raducanu to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the first time, playing with clarity and confidence. With Vukov back courtside, her team dynamic appears more settled, which may be contributing to her renewed form.
Focused on the future
As she prepares for her next match against Marketa Vondrousova, Rybakina seems intent on keeping distractions at bay. Her focus is on maintaining momentum and building on the progress she’s made this season. With her coaching box restored and her health improving, she’s poised to make a deeper run in New York.
Rybakina at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2025
At the moment ranked no.10, Elena achieved a composed 44-16 match record in 2025. The Kazakhstani is currently playing at the U.S. Open where she defeated the world no.335 Julieta Pareja 6-3 6-0, the world no.96 Tereza Valentova 6-3 7-6(7) and the world no.36 Emma Raducanu 6-1 6-2.
Elena Rybakina will take on the world no.60 Marketa Vondrousova in the 4th round. Their current head to head is 1-1.
Elena has won 1 title in 2025 in Strasbourg.
The Kazakhstani won 9 titles in her career: 4 on hard courts, 4 on clay courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of her titles)