Australian Open 2025
Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Elena Rybakina, the sixth-ranked player, claims she never complained about Stefano Vukov to her former coach.
Vukov has been temporarily suspended by the WTA while an investigation into his behavior toward the player is being conducted, but the 2022 champion wants to reinstate him on her team.
“I don’t agree with a lot of things the WTA do in the sense of my relationship with Stefano”, said Rybakina.
Vukov, who denies any wrongdoing, will not be recognized for the season’s opening Grand Slam due to the provisional suspension.
Rybakina, 25, announced last week she wants Vukov to work with her again.
Before the US Open, she worked with him since she was a teenager, and he helped him win her first Grand Slam.
It is not known exactly which part of the WTA’s Code of Conduct Vukov, 37, is alleged to have broken.
Concerns have been raised over the past few seasons by some, including coach and commentator Pam Shriver, about Vukov’s behaviour towards Rybakina.
On and off court at tournaments, how he spoke to her has become controversial.
“As I said before, I have never made any complaints or any of these things”, added Rybakina, who is among the favourites to win the women’s singles title in Melbourne.
He never treated me badly, I’ve always asserted. That’s one thing.
I don’t really want to talk about this more because of the current circumstances. Here, I want to concentrate on my matches.
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