The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has suspended Stefano Vukov, Elena Rybakina’s former coach, for a year following an investigation into his conduct. Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, has been a vocal critic of Vukov and believes he should be banned from the WTA tour forever. The situation has raised concerns about the impact of the ban on Rybakina’s performance and well-being.
WTA Bans Stefano Vukov
The WTA launched an internal investigation into Stefano Vukov’s behavior, and the investigation resulted in a one-year suspension. The WTA has not released specific details of the investigation to protect confidentiality. However, reports indicate that the investigation found evidence of verbal abuse and a “toxic relationship” between Vukov and Rybakina. Allegedly, Vukov told Rybakina she would be “still in Russia picking potatoes” without him. The WTA determined that Vukov’s rigorous training regime pushed Rybakina beyond her limits, potentially causing injuries and health issues.
Rennae Stubbs’s Concerns
Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ ex-coach, has been a vocal critic of Stefano Vukov for years. Stubbs stated that she has witnessed Vukov mistreating Rybakina and believes his behavior is unacceptable. She expressed her opinion that Vukov should be banned from the WTA tour permanently. Stubbs claims she was around the “toxic environment” created by Vukov and Rybakina. According to Stubbs, Vukov attempted to sue her for speaking out against his behavior.
Elena Rybakina’s Stance
Despite the WTA’s ban and the criticism from Stubbs and others, Elena Rybakina has defended Stefano Vukov. Rybakina has stated that Vukov never mistreated her. She has also expressed disappointment with the situation and the comments made by people on tour. Rybakina reunited with Vukov as her coach before the 2025 season, after briefly working with Goran Ivanisevic.
Impact on Rybakina
Andrea Petkovic has voiced concerns about Rybakina’s decision-making ability, suggesting that the “toxic relationship” with Vukov has hindered her judgment. Following her split with Vukov, Rybakina rehired him just before the start of the 2025 season. She was at that time working with Goran Ivanisevic, who reportedly was blindsided by her decision to re-hire Vukov. Ivanisevic left her team following her Australian Open exit. Some observers suggest that Rybakina’s withdrawal from several WTA events last season may have been related to Vukov’s behavior.
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