Elena Rybakina ‘disappointed’ as she breaks silence on WTA confirming Stefano Vukov ban
Elena Rybakina expressed her disappointment as she spoke for the first time since the WTA Tour announced the ban on her coach Stefano Vukov would be upheld.
It was revealed at the start of the year that the WTA had provisionally suspended Vukov pending an investigation into a breach of their code of conduct.
This came following Rybakina‘s announcement that Vukov would re-join her team just months after parting ways with the Croatian prior to last year’s US Open. The Russian-born Kazakh was coached by Vukov from February 2019 to August 2024.
The WTA confirmed on Tuesday that Vukov will remain barred from coaching Rybakina in an official capacity, with The Athletic reporting it is a one-year ban.
In a statement, the WTA said: “The WTA confirms that the independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct by Stefano Vukov has concluded.
“Following this process, the suspension remains in place. To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation and its findings, the WTA will not provide further details.
“We remain committed to ensuring that all matters are handled in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the WTA Code of Conduct.”
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The Athletic has also detailed the “mental abuse” Rybakina was subjected to from Vukov and revealed the pair’s relationship was described as “toxic” by the WTA’s chief executive Portia Archer.
Rybakina has repeatedly said that Vukov “has never mistreated” her since the news of the investigation broke last month.
The Kazakh is competing at the Qatar Open WTA 1000 tournament, where she defeated Rebecca Sramkova 7-6(1), 6-2 in the third round on Wednesday.
In her press conference after her victory in Doha, Rybakina commented on Vukov’s ban being upheld.
“Well, I’m just disappointed with the situation and how the process went,” the 25-year-old said. “I’m not going to comment much on that any more.”
Asked if she had any plans in place, Rybakina said:”[I’m not] going to answer anymore. In what way I can react in this situation?”
The 2022 Wimbledon champion spoke about the challenge of playing amid the investigation and subsequent ban.
“Well, I’m focusing on my matches, and when I go on the court I’m thinking only about the way I need to play, so I’m concentrating on myself, and also, of course, on the opponent,” she explained.
“Definitely it’s not the best time, but as I said, I’m always focusing on my matches and want to perform as best as I can.”
Rybakina also praised her new coach Davide Sanguinetti, who she hired ahead of the Abu Dhabi Open, where she reached the semi-finals.
“I think he’s a very nice person, and for now I’m really happy the way we work the week before Abu Dhabi and the time we spend in Abu Dhabi,” Rybakina added. “He’s very positive and he gives good advice.”
The world No 7 will face either Iga Swiatek or Linda Noskova in the quarter-finals in Doha.
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