‘Elena Rybakina is an adult’ – Patrick Mouratoglou’s strong verdict on Stefano Vukov being banned
Patrick Mouratoglou has shared his strong opinion on Elena Rybakina’s controversial coach Stefano Vukov being banned from tournaments.
Rybakina‘s coaching situation was one of the biggest stories in the early part of the tennis season.
The 2022 Wimbledon winner hired esteemed coach Goran Ivanisevic at the end of the 2024 season following her decision to part ways with Stefano Vukov in August.
The Russian-born star, who represents Kazakhstan, then revealed on January 1 that Vukov would be re-joining her coaching team for the 2025 season.
The day after the shock announcement, it emerged that Vukov, who was Rybakina’s coach from 2019 to 2024, had been suspended by the WTA Tour amid an investigation into a breach of their code of conduct.
The WTA revealed in February that Vukov had been barred from coaching Rybakina in an official capacity following the conclusion of its investigation, with The Athletic reporting it is a one-year suspension. Vukov is also banned from the four Grand Slams.
The Athletic also reported details of the “mental abuse” Rybakina was subjected to from Vukov and disclosed that the pair’s relationship was described as “toxic” in a letter by the WTA’s chief executive Portia Archer.
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Rybakina has publicly maintained that Vukov “has never mistreated” her and she has repeatedly expressed her disappointment at the ban.
The 26-year-old confirmed during the French Open that she and Vukov still work together outside of tournaments. She added Italian coach Davide Sanguinetti to her team following Vukov’s suspension, with Ivanisevic having left after the Australian Open.
In an interview with The Times, Mouratoglou asserted that Vukov should not have been banned and argued the Croatian’s coach’s absence has “hurt” Rybakina this season.
“Going to Rybakina, which is a different subject, there is a justice in this country that says what is right and wrong,” said the Frenchman, who coaches Naomi Osaka.
“I don’t think any [other] entity should be entitled to judge people.
“My second point is she is an adult. Her career is short. If she chooses one coach that makes her successful and doesn’t see any problem to be talked to in a way, she should be allowed to decide for herself, because who’s going to pay the consequences of her career not being the same?
“It’s hurt her. She doesn’t have the same results by far.”
Rybakina, the world No 11, is one of the favourites to win the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, where she will face Elina Avanesyan in the opening round.
