Elena Rybakina has sent shockwaves through the tennis world after being spotted training with her controversial coach Stefano Vukov, despite his official WTA ban! The 2022 Wimbledon champion, who has been vocal in her defense of Vukov, was seen practicing at a private club in the United Arab Emirates—far away from the watchful eyes of the WTA but well within the court of public opinion.
The internet erupted when a 13-year-old junior player from the UAE innocently posted training session photos on Instagram. In one of the images, eagle-eyed fans immediately spotted Vukov in the background, confirming that Rybakina is still working with the Croatian coach. Given his one-year ban from WTA tournaments, many were left wondering whether any rules had been broken. But according to regulations, Vukov is only barred from official tournament sites, meaning private training sessions are fair game!
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WTA ban and Rybakina’s unwavering loyalty
The WTA’s investigation into Vukov concluded earlier this year, with the governing body refusing to publicly disclose details. However, a report from The Athletic confirmed that the 37-year-old coach had been found guilty of verbal abuse, leading to a strict one-year ban. This means he is not allowed to sit in Rybakina’s player box, enter the locker room, or coach on tournament practice courts.
Despite the controversy, Rybakina has refused to abandon her longtime mentor. She has repeatedly expressed frustration with the WTA’s handling of the case, insisting that she has never been mistreated.
“Well, I’m just disappointed with the situation, and how the process went. I’m not going to comment much on that anymore,” Rybakina said after Vukov’s ban was confirmed.
The coaching carousel: Ivanisevic and Sanguinetti stepped in
In an attempt to stabilize her team, Rybakina initially brought in Goran Ivanisevic, Novak Djokovic’s former coach. However, the partnership lasted only a month, with the 2001 Wimbledon champion walking away under unclear circumstances. Ivanisevic later described the split as “strange” and “sad,” revealing that off-court issues played a major role in his decision to leave, while pointing out that he considers Rybakina the best tennis player in the world.
“I won’t talk much about it, but I can say that it’s a bit of a sad and strange story,” Ivanisevic said in an interview with Arena Sport. “Unfortunately, some things happened off the court that I couldn’t control and I didn’t want to be a part of that story, so I decided it was best to quit.”
Since then, Rybakina has turned to Davide Sanguinetti, the former coach of Dinara Safina, for guidance. However, Sanguinetti has made it clear that he has no problem with Vukov’s presence in Rybakina’s team.
Defiant Rybakina continues to train with Vukov
While critics question her loyalty to a banned coach, Rybakina remains unmoved. The Kazakhstani star has made it clear that she values her own judgment over outside opinions, and her recent training session with Vukov proves she isn’t backing down.
One thing is certain—Elena Rybakina is playing by her own rules, and she doesn’t care what anyone thinks!
She just cannot live without him, he is sexy handsome man, may be this is love?
I can understand why she is so addicted and devoted
btw she is training for what? she is not in entrylist of both upcoming events – neither Charleston not even Stuttgart (Defending champion)
Elena Rybakina’s next scheduled tournament is the Mutua Madrid Open, taking place from April 22 to May 4, 2025.