Rybakina supports Vukov: He never abused me

Author: Richard Pagliaro @Nowtennis | Saturday, January 4, 2025
Photo credit: Elena Rybakina Instagram

Elena Rybakina linebackers coach Stefano Vukov— and criticized the criticism he received from some coaches on tour.

Last week, Rybakina announced that Vukov, who coached her for more than five years, would rejoin her team as an assistant coach to the head coach Goran Ivanisevic.

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After Rybakina’s announcement, Competitor It was revealed that Vukov is serving a provisional suspension, which prevents him from receiving a coaching certificate for this month’s Australian Open.

Several coaches and commentators, including Pam Shriver and Rene StubbsCriticized Vukov’s treatment of Rybakina.

World No. 6 Rybakina said Vukov did not abuse her and reiterated that she was unhappy to see critical comments from other coaches.

“Of course, I’m not happy with the situation. I’m not happy with the comments that I see, especially from people who are on tour,” Rybakina told the media at the United Cup in Sydney. “This is an active coach, a commentator. I don’t think it’s fair.

“Yes, but the only thing I can say is that he never abused me. I respect everything he did from when I was 200 and all the way through everything we did, like, I didn’t know you could give me Name other coaches who have had the same success with players over 200 and then won a Grand Slam and made it to the top.

Ivanisevic, who coached Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic to Grand Slam titles, was reportedly unaware of Vukov’s return and was blindsided by the news .

Rybakina, however, said she was happy with the progress of her partnership with Ivanisevic, but did not reveal whether her new coach was happy with her former coach returning to the team.

“Well, I was working with Golan and these articles came out and I mean, all I can say is, I’ve said this before [Stefano Vukov] I was never abused, or anything like that.

“I mean, I’m working with Golan. I’m happy with the way we’re working these weeks now. As I said, Stefano is rejoining the team because I’ve known this guy for six years and have A lot of things we can do off the pitch as well.