Elena Rybakina says that she is disappointed by the WTA’s decision to maintain a ban against former coach Stefano Vukov after an investigation into a potential violation of her code of conduct.
Rybakina, who won the title of Wimbledon 2022 under Vukovended their five-year partnership in August, a few days ahead of the United States Open, where she retired before her second round match.
In January, Vukov was temporarily suspended by the director of female tennis, after which Rybakina said that he had “mistreated” her.
Vukov denies the reprehensible acts and told athletics last month that he had “never abused anyone” after the media reported for the first time the provisional prohibition of WTA.
Rybakina and Vukov separated in August, before saying that he would come back just before the Australian Open. (Getty Images: Tim Clayton / Corbis))
“The WTA confirms that the independent survey on a potential violation of the WTA code of conduct by Stefano Vukov concluded,” the WTA said in a statement.
“Following this process, the suspension remains in place. To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the survey and its conclusions, the WTA will not provide more details.
“We remain determined to ensure that all questions are treated in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the WTA code of conduct.”
The WTA has not provided details on the duration of the suspension.
Before the Australian Open of last month, Rybakina said that she would rehire Vukov to her team, which would have been a surprise for the new Goran Ivanišević coach, who left the Rybakina team after a fourth round.
The suspension of Vukov made him ineligible to obtain a diploma for tournaments and would not have been authorized in Melbourne Park.
“I am just disappointed with the situation and how the process took place. I will no longer comment on a lot,” the number seven world of 25 years after its victory on Rebecca Šramková told the Qatar Open.
“I focus on my games, and when I go on the field, I only think of the way I have to play, so I focus on myself, and also, of course, on the opponent.
“Certainly, it’s not the best time, but as I said, I still focus on my games and I want to play as best as possible.”
The Kazakh of Russian origin added the former Italian player Davide Sanguinetti to his team earlier this month.
Former world number one, Andy Roddick, said on his podcast served that the tour had breathed “a collective relief sigh” after the prohibition of Vukov.
“There were many commentators who sat near Vukov during the matches and said that the way he worked was somehow on the line of verbal violence,” said Roddick.
“And that’s what we can see and that’s what he’s ready to do in front of thousands of people in a crowd.”
The next Rybakina match in Doha is a quarter -final confrontation with Iga świątek, in a revenge match of last year’s final by świątek.
Reuters
