Elena Rybakina’s Coaching Turmoil Branded ‘Upsetting and Disturbing’ as Tennis Insider Weighs In With Honest Take

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” seems to ring true in the investigation surrounding Elena Rybakina and her former coach Stefano Vukov. Allegations of misconduct have led to a WTA ban that casts a shadow over their successful partnership. So, on February 12, the WTA banned Vukov for his behavior toward players, including Rybakina. The investigation began after she split from him following the 2024 US Open, revealing multiple Code of Conduct breaches. Although the WTA kept the report details under wraps, insider Jon Wertheim shared his insights.

To catch you up, just before the 2024 US Open, Rybakina split from Stefano Vukov to work with Goran Ivanisevic but shocked everyone by reinstating Vukov before the Australian Open. This ended her trial with Ivanisevic after a fourth-round exit. Ahead. the WTA reminded her that Vukov’s provisional suspension barred his return, ending their five-year partnership that included her 2022 Wimbledon victory.

Speaking to Andy Roddick on the ‘Served’ podcast on Thursday, the two hosts broke down the intricacies behind Elena Rybakina’s case. Wertheim noted, “There was a sort of cause and effect between this very intense coaching in the withdrawals that we’ve talked about. But it’s just really messy, not least because the player herself has said there’s nothing to see here. There was a headline today that said, ‘Rybakina breaks her silence!’ and you sort of click-bait; what was that? In her silence, it was basically, ‘I’m disappointed by this outcome; what more can I say?’” This is pretty much the gist of what’s got most watchers frustrated.

“So she has not portrayed herself as a victim, and the fact that you have a player who is basically taking issue with this entire investigation apparatus—that’s a sort of added element to this. It’s all really upsetting and disturbing,” he added. Previously, she emphasized that Vukov “never mistreated” her, despite players like Pam Shriver publicly expressing their concerns about his behavior on court.

The 22-time Grand Slam doubles champion, took to her X profile on January 1 to share her thoughts on Elena’s decision to rehire coach Vukov. She described the move as “very sad,” and emphasized how the sport must finally face the music on abuse and control. The WTA confirmed that Vukov’s suspension remains in place but won’t share more details to protect the Elana Rybakina‘s integrity. So, there’s no way to know exactly what was the true reason behind it. Elena, on the other hand, chooses to focus on her game.

Rybakina’s mindset amidst the coaching drama

After Goran Ivanisevic’s departure and Stefano Vukov‘s ongoing suspension, she has brought in Italian coach Davide Sanguinetti to help her through this chaotic time. While focusing on her tournament performance, Elena Rybakina addressed the controversy surrounding Vukov, who remains banned from all sanctioned events pending an investigation. Speaking to AFP at the Abu Dhabi Open on February 2, she said, “We are working with David like just did one week of preparation and actually Stefano a little bit and I knew him a little from before. So he was actually available and sometimes he would speak with Stefanos like since they know each other and yeah we see how it goes. But for now, I’m happy with the way we worked this week.”

Despite the whirlwind, Rybakina is focused on her game and ready to tackle the Qatar Open. At the tournament, Rybakina has been on fire, not dropping a single set so far. She recently overpowered Rebecca Sramkova to secure her spot in the quarterfinals. When asked about the ongoing investigation into Vukov, she didn’t hold back. “I’m just disappointed with the situation, and how the process went. I’m not going to comment much more. I’m focusing on my matches, and when I go on the court I’m thinking only about the way I need to play. It’s not the best time, but I want to perform as best as I can.”

Looking ahead, Rybakina is gearing up for a thrilling showdown against the World No.2 Iga Swiatek for a place in the semifinals on Thursday!