Elena Rybakina has been making headlines, and this time for the whirlwind surrounding her recent split with coach Stefano Vukov right before the US Open. The tennis community has been buzzing with speculation, and allegations have flown, but only Rybakina knows the full story behind their parting ways. Through it all, fans and experts alike have held their breath, wondering if the split would affect Rybakina’s form and if she’d be able to bounce back. However, Rybakina seems to be giving a breather to her fans, as recent photos of the Kazakh star suggest she’s finding her peace.

The Kazhak sensation played her last match at the US Open where she decided to withdraw ahead of her second round match. Since then, she has failed to make a return to the courts and is reportedly healing from the injuries that she faced on Tour. Amidst the prevalent concerns about her return, the star player now seems to give a positive update. 

In the latest picture shared on Instagram by Amina Anshba, Rybakina can be seen enjoying cherishing time with her friends. The background suggests an outing with tables arranged in the form of a meal party. The star player can be seen smiling brightly as she enjoys the company of her friends. Remember, Anshba is one of Rybakina’s best friends who now seems to be offering support to the star player amidst the alleged woes she is facing. 

Remember, Rybakina has already withdrawn from nine tournaments this season, with the latest being at the China Open. While this raises several questions about her fitness and well-being, a bombshell dropped by Russian journalist Sonya Tartakova gave a completely different angle. Tartakova claimed that Rybakina’s poor health was caused by the stress she endured during her stint with her former coach. 

Speaking about the tennis star, Tartakova said, “Many people do not understand the reason for such health problems. They said that she is having difficulties, back problems. This is the official reason. Then, during this year, she had stomach problems. But as people who did not work with her but were involved in her professional career say, she is now under a lot of stress, and this is all psychosomatic.”

While Rybakina has not confirmed any of these claims, the tennis world is siding with the Kazhak player. However, the latest pictures of Rybakina have sparked fresh hope amongst her fans as they express their happiness over the pictures of the star player. 

Fans mesmerized by Elena Rybakina’s latest picture

Taking to X, one user wrote, “WOW. this is great news 😭 thank you for this drop.” The star player has not been active in the public forum lately and hence, this appearance seems to be mesmerizing for her fans. Besides, several questions were raised about her stress levels because of the long-term partnership she witnessed with her coach, which came to an end. Rybakina herself reflected on her latest struggles while withdrawing from the China Open and said, “This has been a challenging year and I am grateful for the support from the tournament organizers and all of my fans.” More similar reactions followed from the users. 

Responding to the picture, one user wrote, “Good that she’s taking time to re group / forget about tennis for a bit. Needed,” Remember, there has been a lot that is discussed about Rybakina including her alleged struggles as a result of her previous stint with Vukov. Vukov too, has often come under scrutiny for his aggressive coaching style. Be it during Rybakina’s last year’s Australian Open semifinal match or third-round clash in the 2023 US Open, fans have frequently noticed some animated reactions from the coach during her matches. Hence, in such situations as this, fans believe that the star player should take an adequate break and spend some time away from the courts. Several other people joined the fray. 

“Waiting for her return 🫶,” wrote another user. Interestingly, the tennis corridors are buzzing with rumors of Rybakina’s return anytime soon. While the star player herself admitted that she would love to be back before the season finale, it is also anticipated that she might play in Abu Dhabi for “The Greatest Show on Court,” in December this year. The information was shared by the official account of the World Tennis League and hinted that Rybakina will feature in the exhibition event.

Yet another user expressed happiness over Rybakina’s picture and wrote, “Finally some signs of life and good news🥰.” For now, it would be interesting to see if the Kazhak star can overcome the challenges soon and come out vibrantly to dominate the courts yet again.