The 2022 Elena Rybakina, Wimbledon champion defended his former coach Stefano Vukov, saying “he never mistreated me”, after learning last week that Vukov has been provisionally suspended from the WTA Tour.
According to a WTA spokesperson, Vukov is under investigation for alleged violations of the tour’s code of conduct. A verdict is expected to be delivered before the Australian Open, which starts in a week, but in the meantime he cannot access the tournament’s practice courts or other backstage areas.
“I can only say, and I’ve said this before, that he never mistreated me or it was never anything like that,” Rybakina told BBC Sport on Saturday, after losing to world number 2 Iga Swiatek at the United Cup in Sydney.
Vukov was Rybakina’s coach for five years, from the age of 19, until their separation shortly before the US Open in August. But on Wednesday, she posted an unexpected message on Instagram welcoming him back to the team.
The message does not specify what role Vukov will now play, although those close to the matter say that she would like him to serve as manager. Rybakina appointed another former Wimbledon champion – Goran Ivanisevic – as his new coach late last year.
“I mean, I work with Goran,” Rybakina said Saturday. “I’m happy with the way we’ve been working now for a few weeks. As I also said, Stefano joins the team because I have known him for six years and there are also many things we can do off the pitch.
“Of course, I’m not really happy with the situation. I’m not happy with the comments I’m seeing, especially from people on the tour. They are active coaches, commentators. I don’t think that’s fair.
“Yeah, but the only thing I can say is that he never mistreated me. I have respect for him for everything he’s done from the very beginning when I was 200 (worldwide) to what we’ve done.
“You can (try to) name me other coaches who have had the same success with players who turned 200 and then won the Grand Slam and were at the top.”
Rybakina’s complaints about coaches’ and commentators’ comments will likely be directed at Pam Shriverthe former Wimbledon doubles champion who posted a critical tweet on Wednesday in response to the news of Vukov’s return.
It appears that Portia Archer, the new general manager of the WTA, is personally handling Vukov’s situation. On Thursday, Vukov said Athletics on the website that he had “certainly never abused anyone.”
