Elena Rybakina’s controversial coach Stefano Vukov’s next move against WTA confirmed
Elena Rybakina’s suspended coach Stefano Vukov is in the process of appealing against the WTA’s decision to ban him and prevent him from obtaining credentials for women’s tennis events.
Vukov started working with Rybakina in 2019 and he coached her to Grand Slam glory as she won Wimbledon in 2022 while she also finished runner-up at the 2023 Australian Open.
But the run at Melbourne Park two years ago attracted attention for all the wrong reasons as Vukov came under fire for his coaching methods as many believe he was often seen shouting at Rybakina during matches and at training.
The player defended her mentor, but the situation came to head in August 2024 when the Kazakh player announced she had parted ways with the Croatian ahead of the US Open.
The WTA also announced an investigation into Vukov’s behaviour as they announced he had been temporarily suspended.
But Vukov then returned as her coach at the 2025 Australian Open, but a few weeks after the tournament the WTA announced “the suspension remains in place” as an independent investigation found there were signs of “abusive conduct”.
Rybakina has always been critical of the decision and only recently she revealed she is still working with Vukov, stating: “We usually train together between tournaments, not when the tournament is on.”
And now it has been revealed that the Croatian has “pursued relief through arbitration because under WTA rules, disputes must be resolved in this manner, rather than in court”.
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According to The Athletic’s Matthew Futterman: “Two people briefed on the appeal and the arbitration process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships in tennis, said Vukov is seeking to overturn his ban from the WTA Tour.
“Vukov, who was suspended by the WTA Tour for breaching its code of conduct, is now in private arbitration with the governing body of women’s tennis, per the sources.”
The report adds that Vukov “now acts as Rybakina’s agent” and the 38-year-old “has also suggested to associates that he intends to represent Rybakina commercially”.
Although he is unable to attend WTA sanctioned events with the suspension prevent him from accessing stadiums, practice courts and player accommodations, it has widely been reported that the pair are also romantically involved and Vukov can still work with Rybakina outside of official tournaments.
