On the eve of the Australian Open, a major conflict is escalating at the top of women’s tennis.
Elena Rybakinathe 2022 Wimbledon champion, wants to bring in his former coach Stefano Vukov back on her team, but Vukov was provisionally suspended by the WTA Tour while she was the subject of a confidential and private investigation for violating the tour’s code of conduct.
Vukov is not entitled to obtain WTA accreditation and Tennis Australia will not issue him accreditation for the first Grand Slam of the 2025 season.
Vukov has denied breaking the WTA code, and Rybakina, the world No. 6, has repeatedly said Vukov’s conduct toward her was never abusive. She made her feelings clear to the WTA Tour, according to a representative briefed on the ongoing investigation. The WTA launched the investigation last year after complaints were made about his conduct, which was described as intense and at times harsh by others in the sport.
While other coaches and commentators, including Donna Vekic’s coach and ESPN analyst Pam Shriver, publicly criticized Vukov, Rybakina defended him, and she was not among the complainants to contact the WTA Tour.
“I have certainly never abused anyone,” Vukov wrote in a text message during his flight to Australia on Thursday from Dubai.
“The WTA can confirm that Stefano Vukov is currently under provisional suspension pending an independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct,” a WTA spokesperson said in a statement. a press release.
“As part of the provisional suspension, Mr. Vukov is not eligible to obtain WTA accreditation at this time. Although the WTA does not generally comment on ongoing investigations, we believe it is necessary to clarify this issue due to recent public statements that misrepresent the situation. We will not provide further details at this time. »
Tennis Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to two sources briefed on the investigation, the WTA Tour is finalizing its investigation into Vukov, which was conducted by an independent organization and could be released in the coming days.
These sources say the WTA Tour did not interview Vukov about the complaints. They spoke anonymously so as not to jeopardize ongoing relationships with people in the sport.
With Vukov effectively excluded from training, he would not be able to access the practice courts or Rybakina’s dressing room at the Australian Open, or any other event. But in an Instagram story posted on January 1 from Perth, where Rybakina was playing in the United Cup for Kazakhstan alongside current coach Goran Ivanisevic, she confirmed Vukov’s return to her team.
“Hello everyone, I am delighted to announce that Stefano will be joining the team for the 2025 season. Thank you all for your support. And I wish you a happy new year 2025,” Rybakina wrote.
Rybakina’s decision to bring back Vukov opens the possibility of a showdown with the sport’s top officials just days before the start of the year’s first Grand Slam, traditionally one of the biggest moments of the year in this sport.
People who have been in direct contact with Rybakina, the 2023 finalist in Melbourne, said it was unclear what she would do if Vukov was not allowed to coach her. The possibilities include everything from acquiring tickets to be able to watch matches inside the stadium to boycotting the tournament and WTA Tour events.
Rybakina, who was born and raised in Russia but has represented Kazakhstan in return for career support since the age of 18, parted ways with Vukov in August after a successful five-year partnership. Rybakina was well outside the top 100 when she and Vukov began working together. She won Wimbledon in 2022, beating Ons Jabeur in three sets.
Wimbledon had banned players representing Russia and Belarus due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but Rybakina was allowed to play because she now claims Kazakhstan as her home country.
Rybakina lost the Australian Open final in three sets to Aryna Sabalenka six months later. She reached third place in the rankings and was one of the few players to regularly cause problems for Iga Swiatek, the sport’s dominant player for the past three years.
However, she has suffered from injuries and illnesses over the past year and a half. During this period, she withdrew from tournaments several times, including Indian Wells, the Italian Open and the Italian Open. Olympic Games.
According to sources briefed on the investigation, Rybakina has been in contact with the WTA Tour for months, trying to refute the allegations and make Vukov eligible to coach her. Her decision to go public with her desire to work with Vukov alongside Ivanisevic, whose appointment she announced just two months ago, has thrust the issue into the spotlight.
Although Vukov cannot coach him, Rybakina’s social media post does not mention what role he would play. Sources close to Rybakina’s most recent events and briefed on the ongoing investigation said Rybakina and Vukov spoke regularly about and before her matches.
Alongside its code of conduct, the WTA published new protection rules on Monday, December 26, in a revised 50-page document.
Certain regulations, including powers that allow the WTA Tour to provisionally ban a coach without explanation or notice of an ongoing investigation, appear consistent with the details of the situation involving Rybakina and Vukov, but they are not directly part of the Code . of conduct, he is being investigated for violations.
Where that leaves Ivanisevic, who recently coached Novak Djokovic, remains to be seen. Ivanisevic, 53, helped Djokovic win nine Grand Slam titles between 2019 and 2024.
Ivanisevic’s appointment was seen as a major coup for Rybakina. Their partnership, however, became strained after she announced that Vukov would return just weeks after Ivanisevic began working with her. Ivanisevic, who is on a short-term contract (not uncommon in tennis), was blindsided by Rybakina’s announcement, according to Rybakina’s sources of recent events and informed of the ongoing investigation into Vukov . Earlier this week, Rybakina told reporters on court that the tennis world, in time, would “see the work” the two are doing.
It is unclear whether Ivanisevic will stay if Vukov manages to become Rybakina’s de facto coach again in the future.
Vukov flew to Australia at Rybakina’s request but cannot be on the field with her, where a coach would need to be present. Rybakina says she wants him there. This is not the case for the WTA and Tennis Australia maintains the temporary suspension of the tour.
This article was originally published in Athletics.
Tennis, Women’s Tennis
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