RYBAKINA'S FORMER COACH APPEALS ONE-YEAR WTA BAN IN RELATION TO ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
- Christian Montegan
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
A new development has emerged in the case of Elena Rybakina's former coach, Stefano Vukov, appealing his one-year ban from the WTA Tour.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has experienced mixed results over the past 12 months, with some attributed to off-court issues.
In February, a thorough investigation led the WTA to hand Vukov a one-year suspension from the women's circuit, as a result of abusive allegations, first reported by tennis journalist Sofya Tartakova, when the pair went their separate ways in August last year.
"[It] is clear that (Rybakina and Vukov) were very close, that she lived the best moments of her career thanks to working together, but her parents insisted that (Elena) needed a change in her tennis life: there was pressure, insults, bad words that constantly came from Vukov’s lips. And now she is suffering, trying to get rid of these psychological problems," Tartakova explained.
By entering the code TFS2025, you will receive 15% off the RRP on all non-sale items when you shop online at www.racquetworld.com.au
Once the ban came into effect, the WTA provided a public statement.
"The WTA confirms that the independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA code of conduct by Stefano Vukov has concluded," it read.
"Following this process, the suspension remains in place. To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation and its findings, the WTA will not provide further details."
The findings obtained by the WTA included the following:
Vukov subjected Rybakina to mental abuse and excessive pressure, pushing her beyond her physical limits until she became ill.
During the US Open, after Rybakina dismissed him from her team, Vukov continued to harass her by repeatedly texting and refusing to respect her boundaries.
According to The Athletic, two people spoke after being briefed on the appeal and arbitration process, stating that Vukov intends to overturn his ban to allow him to coach and regain credential rights.
The sources add that he is in private arbitration with the women's professional governing body.
At the 2025 Australian Open, the 38-year-old Croatian was barred from receiving accreditation due to the WTA's ongoing investigation process.
Despite the disturbing allegations, which include Vukov referring to Rybakina as "stupid" and "retarded," the world No.11 insists that she has experienced no problems and has reached out to officials, asking them to allow him to coach her again.
Rybakina told the media at a Roland-Garros press conference that the duo "practice together between tournaments, not when the tournament is on."
In the meantime, Vukov operates as Rybakina's agent.
Game4padel is leading the way in the growth of Padel tennis in Australia. Check them out at game4padel.com.au for club locations, corporate event opportunities and special offers.
Comments