Coco Gauff has weighed in on the Elena Rybakina-Stefano Vukov controversy, cautiously expressing her stance while emphasizing the importance of player protection in professional tennis.
The WTA officially banned Vukov from coaching, though they did not publicly disclose the findings of their investigation. However, reports from The Athletic indicate that the inquiry determined Vukov had engaged in verbal abuse and created a toxic working environment.
Despite these allegations, Rybakina defended her coach, stating publicly during the Australian Open that she was “never mistreated” and denouncing what she called “untrue claims” circulating in the tennis world. However, many observers believe the 2022 Wimbledon champion may not be fully aware of the impact of her coach’s behavior.
Gauff: “I Know Rybakina Doesn’t Like the Decision, But the WTA Has the Right to Protect Her”
Speaking ahead of the Dubai Tennis Championships, Gauff acknowledged the complexity of the situation while making it clear that she supports the WTA’s stance.
“From my understanding, I know she doesn’t like the decision. I know WTA also has the right to protect her,” Gauff stated.
The reigning US Open champion emphasized the need for governing bodies to step in when necessary, especially in cases where players may not recognize they are being mistreated.
“Overall, I think it’s nice that the WTA is making sure that they’re out there to protect players. I definitely think that that’s important in our sport because a lot of times, if you look, sometimes victims don’t even know they are a victim.”
Gauff’s comments echo a larger issue in women’s tennis, where former players have spoken out years after their careers ended about mistreatment they endured but did not recognize at the time.
“In this sport, it’s happened so many times. A lot of times you see former players speaking out years after their career ended, how they were treated.”
Rybakina Moves On With New Coach
While the WTA has not officially confirmed the length of Vukov’s suspension, The Athletic reports that the ban will last one year.
In the meantime, Rybakina has moved forward, hiring Davide Sanguinetti as her new coach. The pair debuted together last week in Doha, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Rybakina’s career.
While Rybakina remains publicly opposed to the WTA’s ruling, Gauff’s stance reflects a growing sentiment among players that safeguarding athletes from toxic coaching environments must take precedence over personal loyalties.
As the WTA continues to address issues of player well-being, Gauff’s comments highlight a critical shift: tennis is no longer turning a blind eye to questionable coaching tactics, and accountability is becoming the new standard.