“I’m really looking forward to this partnership,” Elena Rybakina said last year while appointing Novak Djokovic’s ex-trainer Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach. Following a split from Croatian Stefano Vukov, back in August 2024, the World No.6 and 2022 Wimbledon champion brought Ivanisevic to her team. United Cup 2025 was the first tournament she played under his tutelage. However, Rybakina announced earlier this month that she has rehired Vukov. Now, she has a clear coaching preference ahead of the Australian Open.

Following her split with Vukov last year, many rumors emerged online. They suggesting that she parted ways with him due to a “borderline toxic relationship”, as Andy Roddick put it, between them. Reputed journalist Sofya Tartakova had even claimed Rybakina had psychological problems after working with Vukov after working with him. But the Kazakh kept refuting such claims. She then came up with a shocking update, at the beginning of 2025.

On Instagram, she put up a story and revealed that Vukov “will be the joining the team for 2025 season.” But then things took a turn, for the worse, following the WTA’s intervention.

“The WTA can confirm that Stefano Vukov is currently under a provisional suspension pending an independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct,” said a WTA spokesperson last week as reported by The Athletic. It once again suggested that rumors of Vukov’s problematic behavior might have been true.

As of now, an official verdict is yet to come in this case. On Saturday, Elena Rybakina engaged in an official press conference ahead of her campaign in Melbourne. As expected, she was pitched questions about her coaching situation. When asked who will be her main coach at the Australian Open this month, she simply said, “Well, as you see, we’re here. We are working. Yes, it’s him.” She confirmed Ivanisevic as her trainer for the event.

For the unversed, Ivanisevic had recently hinted that he may not stay on a permanent basis. “I am, for the moment, here. What’s going to happen in a couple of days, I don’t know. But for the moment, I am here. Hopefully, I will stay, and hopefully everything is going to be OK. But let’s take day by day,” he said while implying that he’s waiting for a final verdict in Vukov’s case.

Coming back to the conference, Rybakina didn’t speak much about her former trainer. Especially regarding the provisional suspension imposed on him. “I said already I’m not going to speak about it more since the situation is not clear from the WTA Tour.” She wanted to imply that she’s not able to understand why WTA put a ban on him. According to her, the Croatian did nothing wrong with her. In fact, she made it very clear in an unfiltered revelation a few days ago.

Elena Rybakina strongly defends former coach Stefano Vukov

Trying to clear out the entire confusion, Elena Rybakina came forward in defense of Vukov last week. “I can only say, and I’ve said it already before, that he never mistreated me, or it was never anything like that,” she said, as reported by Brisbane International on January 4. “I’m working with Goran, happy the way we work now for a couple of weeks, and I also said that Stefano is rejoining the team because I know the person for six years – and there is a lot of things that we can do outside of the court too,” she added.

Two years ago, during her campaign at the 2023 Australian Open, ex-WTA pro Pam Shriver, who revealed in 2022 that she had been in an inappropriate relationship with her coach Don Candy when she was a young player, had urged her to watch out for a new trainer.

Shriver even shared her displeasure after knowing that Rybakina wants him back in her team. “It’s time for our entire sport to finally stand up to known abuse and c-lt-like manipulations of players. This is a very sad situation and my prayers are with ER.” the former American player wrote on X, dated January 1.

Moreover, Rybakina showed utmost disappointment towards the hate Vukov has received on social media. “Of course, I’m not really happy with the situation,” she said. “I’m not happy with the comments which I see, especially from the people on the tour. It’s active coaches, commentators. I (don’t) think it’s fair, but the only thing I can say is he never mistreated me,” concluded the 2023 Australian Open runner-up.

As of now, it appears she will wait for the final verdict on Vukov after WTA’s investigation is done. At the same time, her focus will be on giving her best at the first major of this season. The Kazakh would like to clinch her first trophy down under. She couldn’t accomplish this milestone two years ago against Aryna Sabalenka. Back then, the Belarusian beat her 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Will Rybakina be able to lift the trophy this time in Melbourne?