Tennis is no stranger to drama, but the latest firestorm surrounding Elena Rybakina and her coach, Stefano Vukov, has sent shockwaves through the sport. Rennae Stubbs, former coach of Serena Williams, has delivered an explosive call to action, insisting that Vukov should be banned permanently from the WTA Tour amid allegations of toxic behavior and mistreatment.
Despite swirling controversy, Vukov remains in Rybakina’s corner, coaching the former Wimbledon champion through the tour’s biggest events. However, Stubbs isn’t backing down, saying a one-year ban isn’t enough—it needs to be a lifetime punishment.
“He Should Be Banned Forever!” – Stubbs’ Blistering Verdict
Stubbs took to her podcast to condemn the situation in no uncertain terms, questioning why the WTA hasn’t stepped in more aggressively.
“That is her work environment saying, ‘Sorry, this is unacceptable, you are banned for a year.’ And quite honestly, I think he should be banned forever on the WTA Tour,” Stubbs declared.
For Stubbs, there is no gray area—the treatment of Rybakina under Vukov is completely unacceptable.
“Do I think she is in an environment that is not healthy for her? Absolutely! There’s no question about it.”
A “Toxic” Relationship That Can’t Be Ignored?
This isn’t the first time Rybakina and Vukov’s dynamic has come under scrutiny. The two have been seen engaging in heated exchanges, and insiders suggest that their working relationship is far from normal.
Stubbs, who has witnessed the Vukov-Rybakina partnership up close, insists that the coach’s behavior crosses the line.
“Look, some of us know a lot more than others. I was clearly around this toxic environment with him and her quite often. I have spoken about it on the podcast many times, and you know, people did say, ‘Well, it’s her decision.'”
But for Stubbs, that argument doesn’t hold weight. She believes coercive control is a major factor in these types of relationships, making it hard for athletes to break free.
“Yes, it is her decision, but there are a lot of coercive-controlled relationships that get really toxic and really bad.”
Staff Resignations a Red Flag?
Beyond just personal interactions, Stubbs points to a string of staff departures from Rybakina’s camp as evidence of deeper issues.
“You don’t see her coach Goran Ivanisevic decide after this time, even though he enjoyed working with her, say, ‘I’m outta here,’ because he’s clearly seeing stuff that he’s not okay with too.”
This comment hints at a growing concern within the tennis world—if insiders are unwilling to stay, what does that say about the environment around one of the sport’s top players?
Rybakina Puts Controversy Aside for Dubai Challenge
While the tennis world debates Vukov’s future, Rybakina must focus on her next test at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The WTA No. 7 is set to face either Moyuka Uchijima or Jelena Ostapenko in the round of 32 after a strong run to the Doha quarterfinals, where she fell to Iga Swiatek.
But as she steps onto the court, one question looms larger than ever: will the calls to remove Stefano Vukov from the sport finally lead to action?
