“I think we had incredible results over five years. We achieved a lot. I started with him when I was 20. Now it’s the next chapter of my career and I want to make the next step.” Elena Rybakina said while officially announcing her split with her former coach Stefano Vukov, at the start of November. The former World No.3 and 2022 Wimbledon champion then announced her partnership with Novak Djokovic’s former trainer Goran Ivanisevic, as she appointed the latter as her new coach. However, it seems the ghosts of the past are surfacing again and that’s annoying her fans. But what’s the cause of their concern?

On Tuesday, @TheTennisLetter posted on X that Rybakina’s ex-coach Stefano Vukov would be present at the Australian Open. “He will be there to support her, but her main coach is still Goran Ivanisevic. Sofya Tartakova confirms that he did not receive a ban from the WTA,” read the post in response to the original news from journalist Sofya Tartakova.

Tartakova is a renowned Russian journalist who initially came up with a shocking revelation regarding Rybakina’s former coach Vukov. The Kazakh, however, refused to mention anything negative about her five-year association with Vukov. “Of course, it’s a big change, but I think it’s going to be a good change. Of course, it’s not going to be easy when you’ve worked with somebody for a long time, but we are good with Stefano. I just wish him the best in his new chapter,” she said. However, Tartakova claimed that not everything was good between them. And it was the Croatian’s behavior that reportedly forced Rybakina to part ways with him.

Detailing the reasons why the 2023 Australian Open runner-up may have cut ties with Vukov, Tartakova said, “Many people do not understand the reason for such health problems.” Continuing further, she added, “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. She is now completely disorganized, she cannot play.” Moreover, she also claimed that Rybakina’s parents “stood up for her, because she could not break this vicious circle.”

That’s the reason why the ‘Rybenation’ is now upset over the latest update. Hardcore Rybakina fans are unhappy with the news and they have extended their support to the Kazakh.

Fans share strong reactions over Elena Rybakina’s former coach’s return at the Australian Open

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Has anyone even thought that maybe they are in a relationship as a couple. And that’s why she has him...more

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For the unversed, Rybakina and Vukov’s partnership brought a lot of success for the 25-year-old WTA star. Under his tutelage, from 2019 to 2024, she took a huge leap in the rankings, gaining her career-best position of No.3 in July last year. Not to mention her historic title victory in the 2022 grass court Major at the All England Club. But now that the Croatian is not with Rybakina, fans simply want him to stay away, no matter what. Echoing this sentiment, one user wrote, “Oh go away!”

Another fan made their opinion quite visible on Vukov saying “Dude move on omg.” Clearly, the fan was not happy with the fact that the former trainer still wanted to engage with Rybakina’s career. Meanwhile, one person expressed a similar thought, but with an iconic Demi Lovato meme “GET A JOB. STAY AWAY FROM HER.” The meme stems from Lovato’s 2016 comments about a stalker who used to hang out with her sister.

As of now, Rybakina is busy in her United Cup campaign, representing her country. After partnering with Goran Ivanisevic, it’s her first official tournament under him. And it seems she’s already made a positive transition.

In her first singles encounter at the United Cup last week, she beat Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 6-2. Later, in the mixed doubles battle, with her partner Alexander Schevchenko, she defeated Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Carreno Busta 7-6, 6-7, 10-7 and helped Kazakhstan start the event on a winning note. In the second tie, against Greece’s Maria Sakkari, on Monday, Rybakina easily took the match with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-3, pushing her country ahead for a 2-1 lead and win the match. With this, Kazakhstan has entered the QF round of the United Cup for the first time!

It seems fans just want Rybakina to continue to be in a happy space going into the new year. It becomes evident from another die-hard supporter’s comment who wrote “Leave her aloneeeeee. Jk” Lastly, one fan wrote “Stockholm syndrome run away Lena…” while urging their favorite player to stay away from her former coach.

Do you think Vukov’s presence in Melbourne will impact Rybakina’s performance in the Australian Open? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.