World number six Elena Rybakina says she never made “complaints” against her former coach Stefano Vukov.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion wants to bring Vukov back to her team but the Croatian has been provisionally suspended by the WTA while an investigation into his conduct towards the player continues.
“I don’t agree with a lot of things the WTA does regarding my relationship with Stefano,” Rybakina said.
The provisional suspension means Vukov, who denies any wrongdoing, has not received accreditation for the season-opening Grand Slam.
Rybakina, 25, announced last week that she wanted Vukov to work with her again.
She worked with him from his teenage years, helping him win his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon, but her partnership ended before last year’s US Open.
She appointed Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach on a trial basis until the end of the Australian Open, which begins on Sunday.
It is unclear exactly what part of the WTA code of conduct Vukov, 37, allegedly violated.
Concerns have been raised in recent seasons by some, notably commentator Pam Shriver, regarding Vukov’s behavior towards Rybakina.
The way he spoke to her – on and off the field at tournaments – came under scrutiny.
“As I said before, I never made any complaints or anything like that,” added Rybakina, who is among the favorites to win the women’s singles title in Melbourne.
“I always said he never mistreated me. That’s one thing.
“Given the current situation, I don’t really want to talk about it any further. I want to concentrate on my matches here.”
Sixth-seeded Rybakina, a runner-up in Melbourne two years ago, begins his campaign against Australian teenager Emerson Jones.
