Barbara Schett, the Eurosport star and former world No 7, has raised serious allegations against Stefano Vukov, the Croatian ex-coach of Elena Rybakina, the erstwhile Wimbledon winner. According to Schett, Vukov, who is currently serving a one-year suspension for infringing the WTA Tour’s code of conduct, has been involved in a clandestine relationship with Rybakina and is guilty of brainwashing her.
Vukov’s coaching tenure with Rybakina, which started in 2019, came to an abrupt end in August 2024. Following this, he was investigated by the WTA after The Athletic published a report in January 2025, leading to his suspension. Despite being under investigation, Rybakina had announced at the beginning of 2025 that Vukov would be rejoining her team. However, the ongoing investigation and subsequent suspension have now barred him from obtaining tournament accreditation.
In a shocking revelation, The Athletic later reported that Vukov had mentally abused Rybakina and excessively texted her post their initial split prior to the 2024 US Open. Adding fuel to the fire, reports surfaced claiming that the pair had shared a hotel room during Rybakina’s Australian Open campaign in Melbourne last month. The WTA, in its ruling, stated it was plausible that the two were romantically involved.
Schett, in conversation with Kicker, confirmed these allegations. She had spoken to Goran Ivanisevic, Rybakina’s former coach, following their split. She expressed her belief that Vukov had brainwashed Rybakina entirely. She noted, “You can see how he treats her and how he speaks to her. Things escalated at the 2024 US Open, and the team and family tried to remove him.”
The former world No 7 further highlighted the mental turmoil Rybakina was facing due to Vukov’s actions. She applauded the WTA’s decision to ban him, emphasizing that it was a step in the right direction to protect its players.
Ivanisevic, according to Schett, identified the complication in the situation, pointing out that the pair were involved in a private relationship. The concern was that Vukov was attempting to regain his position on the team, an outcome Schett deemed a disaster given the circumstances.
Rybakina, however, has chosen to remain silent on the allegations against Vukov. Following the announcement of the investigation and suspension, she expressed disappointment over the WTA’s ruling. At present, she is without a permanent coach since Ivanisevic ended their brief partnership after her fourth-round exit to Madison Keys in Melbourne.
Despite the controversy, the world No 7 Rybakina has had an active Middle East swing, reaching the semi-finals in Abu Dhabi, the quarter-finals in Doha, and again the semi-finals in Dubai. She is prepared to restart her action at Indian Wells, where she previously won the title in 2023. Due to illness, she had to withdraw from her title defence in 2024. The current situation, however, hasn’t deterred her spirit and she is all set to bounce back.
