The 2022 Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina, is facing a turbulent period in her career. Fresh off a split with her long-time coach, Stefano Vukov, and amidst rumors of a potential ban against Vukov, Rybakina’s recent performance and mental state have come under scrutiny from tennis legend Andy Roddick.

Rybakina’s split with Vukov, who had been instrumental in her rise to prominence since 2019, came as a shock to many for sure. The duo had made some considerable success together, culminating in her Wimbledon victory back in 2022. Their relationship featured a hint of controversy as Vukov’s passionate coaching style often created tense moments during matches. Just days after Rybakina announced their split, Vukov received a ban from the WTA, raising further questions about the dynamics of their partnership. However, Rybanika’s brief statement on her social media expressed gratitude for his contributions to her career but also left the door open for speculation about the reasons behind her recent performances.

Taking to his podcast, ‘Served’, Andy Roddick has voiced his concerns regarding Elena’s current situation. He noted that there was a feeling of “impending bad news” surrounding Rybakina, suggesting that the recent upheavals might be affecting her mental and emotional well-being. Although he praised her exceptional talent, referring to her powerful serve and smooth playing style, he couldn’t help but express his hopes for her to regain her happiness and focus on the court as soon as she could.

“There’s like an impending feeling of, like, bad news coming, or, like the bad, like a bad story coming.” He said, “And I would love to be wrong; this is purely conjecture. This is pure just wondering out loud; I don’t know. What I do know is that she is elite when she is ready, happy, focused, and playing. I, for my money, the best serve in the women’s game can hit all four corners. You know, easy stroke production doesn’t look violent. Is very smooth, especially for her size, with movement. I hope she finds her happiness on the tennis court and health on the tennis court sooner rather than later.” Well, Roddick’s concerns were echoed by Rybakina’s performance at the 2024 US Open.

Elena Rybakina’s missteps at the 2024 US Open

As the 4th seed, she was expected to make a splash, but after parting ways with her coach, she appeared to be facing a few challenges during the match. To say that she had a lot on her plate would be an understatement, but as she faced off against Australian qualifier Destanee Aiana, she seemed to be in good shape. Winning with a score of 6-1, 7-6(1). However, the real challenge came soon after.

While she performed well against Jessika Ponchet from France and Caroline Garcia, the fourth round proved to be a whole other story. When facing against Sorana Cirstea, her start was strong, but things soon began to go downhill from there. Rybakina struggled with her movement and couldn’t keep up the momentum. And this ultimately cost her the match, even resulting in her disclosing that she had been dealing with some injuries, which would explain her sudden drop in performance.

Unfortunately, Rybakina’s journey at the 2024 US Open came to an unexpected end, despite showcasing flashes of her incredible talent throughout the tournament. However, excitement is building among fans and insiders alike as they eagerly anticipate what she will bring to the court in the coming months, especially with a fresh coaching team by her side!