Elena Rybakina’s coach barred from Australian Open as WTA confirm suspension
Stefano Vukov, Elena Rybakina’s controversial coach, is set to be barred from the Australian Open after the WTA Tour confirmed he was under investigation and provisionally suspended.
Croatian Vukov, who was Rybakina’s coach from 2019-2024, is under investigation after allegedly breaching the WTA’s Code of Conduct.
World No 6 Rybakina and Vukov split shortly before the US Open last August, though the Kazakh announced on New Year’s Day that he would be part of her team for the upcoming Australian Open.
However, in a report from The Athletic, the WTA confirmed that the 37-year-old was “not eligible” to receive a WTA credential.
The statement read: “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.
“As part of the provisional suspension, Mr. Vukov is not eligible to obtain a WTA credential at this time.
“While the WTA does not typically comment on active investigations, we believe it is necessary to clarify this matter due to recent public statements that misrepresent the situation. We will not provide further details at this point in time.”
The report further states that Tennis Australia has upheld the WTA’s decision, meaning Vukov will not receive accreditation for the opening Grand Slam event of 2025, which starts on January 12th.
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It also adds that Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion, has continued to defend her former coach and has denied any allegations of wrongdoing on his behalf.
Rybakina hired former world No 2 Goran Ivanisevic as her coach ahead of 2025. He was reportedly unaware that the Kazakh would bring her former coach back into the fold to work alongside him.
The investigation into Vukov is reportedly in its closing stages, though they are yet to speak to him directly about the allegations against him.
Rybakina and Vukov’s five-year partnership was one of the most successful on the WTA in recent years.
The two began working together in 2019 when the Kazakh was ranked outside the world’s top 200.
Under Vukov’s guidance, Rybakina won eight WTA titles, including her SW19 triumph in 2022, and reached a career-high of world No. 3.
The Kazakh also reached the Australian Open final back in January 2023, during which concerns about Vukov’s manner towards his charge were first raised publicly by some.
Neither Rybakina nor Vukov are yet to comment directly on these latest reports.
The 25-year-old is in action at the United Cup, where she is set to face Iga Swiatek in Kazakhstan’s semi-final against Poland on Saturday.
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