The WTA tour prohibited Stefano Vukov, the former coach of Elena Rybakinacoaching and obtaining skills titles for professional tennis events.
The organization did not specify the duration of the suspension or how Vukov violated its rules, but two sources close to the investigation said it was a one -year ban.
In a press release, the WTA said: “The WTA confirms that the independent investigation into a potential violation of the WTA code of conduct by Stefano Vukov concluded.
“After this process, the suspension remains in place. To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation and its conclusions, the WTA will not provide more details. We remain determined to ensure that all questions are dealt with in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the WTA code of conduct. »»
The WTA tour did not publish a report on its investigation, which had examined the complaints that Vukov had been verbally violent towards Rybakina.
Vukov, who denied having broken the code of conduct, has already been prevented from obtaining a WTA coaching diploma during his investigation. Tennis Australia also refused to issue him accreditation for the first Grand Chelem of the 2025 season after the WTA suspended Vukovas indicated exclusively by January 2.
On January 1, Rybakina announced on social networks that he would return to his team, after having ended his five -year partnership on the eve of the US Open 2024.
Vukov was not immediately available to comment.
Rybakina said that Vukov “had never mistreated her” at a press conference at the United Cup in Sydney on January 4, adding that she was “not happy” in the situation.
Portia Archer, director general of the WTA tour, informed Vukov and Rybakina of the decision on January 31, but made no public announcement of her decision. Vukov and Rybakina did not disclose it either.
The WTA launched the investigation in 2024 after complaints were filed concerning the conduct of Vukov towards Rybakina by Rybakina told WTA several times that his conduct had never been abusive, according to people informed of the investigation And in direct contact with Rybakina, who, like all the sources of this story, spoke subject to anonymity to protect relations within tennis.
Vukov, who was in Melbourne during Australian Openwas prevented from accessing Melbourne Park on a diploma and therefore unable to enter the training grounds or the box of Rybakina. The people who were in direct contact with Rybakina, the finalist of Australia Open 2023, said that several options were on the table so that it integrates it into its configuration. They went on everything to acquire tickets so that he could watch matches inside the stadium as a spectator, to boycott the tournament and the events of the WTA tour.
During the tournament, Rybakina expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation in several press conferences.
Rybakina lost against the possible Madison Keys champion in the fourth round. Goran Ivanisevic, who was Rybakina’s accredited coach for the tournament, then left his role January 21. Three sources with personal and professional relationships with Rybakina and Ivanisevic said he had found him extremely difficult because of the situation. Ivanisevic almost left the role before the start of the tournament, but during an emotional meeting, Rybakina pleaded with Ivanisevic to stay in his team, becoming upset by the possibility of entering the first Grand Chelem tournament of 2025 Without coach.
Two sources have informed the WTA survey on Vukov, which attended the Rybakina events before the Australian Open, had described Ivanisevic as blind by the announcement of Rybakina that Vukov would return. Rybakina is now working with Davide Sanguinetti, which Rybakina has confirmed in communication with Vukov since he joined his team.
This article originally appeared in Athletics.
Tennis, female tennis
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