The coaching saga surrounding tennis star Elena Rybakina has taken a dramatic twist, with former doubles world No 1 Rennae Stubbs divulging that Rybakina’s suspended coach, Stefano Vukov, had once threatened to sue her for comments she made about his coaching style.
Rybakina and Vukov enjoyed a partnership that spanned over half a decade before they decided to part ways in August 2024. Rybakina later hired Goran Ivanisevic as her coach, only to announce at the start of 2022 that Vukov would be rejoining her team. However, his return was short-lived, as Vukov quickly found himself provisionally suspended by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour while they conducted an investigation into his conduct.
In a recent development, the WTA announced that Vukov would continue to be barred from coaching Rybakina, who clinched the 2022 Wimbledon title. The Athletic reported that the ban is likely to last for a year. In a statement, the WTA confirmed the conclusion of an independent investigation into a potential breach of conduct by Vukov, but refrained from divulging any further details in order to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the process.
The Athletic also uncovered disturbing details of the alleged “mental abuse” that Rybakina had to endure from Vukov during their partnership. It was revealed that the WTA’s Chief Executive, Portia Archer, had described their relationship as “toxic” in a letter. Despite these allegations, Rybakina has consistently defended Vukov, claiming he “never mistreated” her and has voiced her disappointment over his ban.
Stubbs has now come forward on her tennis podcast, revealing that Vukov had once threatened to sue her for her previous comments about his coaching style. Stubbs insisted that everything she said about Vukov, which has now been corroborated by others in Rybakina’s team, was true. She spoke about witnessing Vukov yell at Rybakina, and suggested that Rybakina could improve further with a more positive coach.
In light of these developments, it’s clear that the saga surrounding Elena Rybakina, Stefano Vukov, and the WTA is far from over. While the investigation findings remain confidential, the impact on all parties involved is very public. As the tennis world continues to react to these revelations, Rybakina’s performance on the court will be keenly watched in the upcoming season.
