Elena Rybakina reportedly suffering with 'psychological problems' amid 'pressure' and 'insults' during Vukov coaching tenure

Wednesday, 25 September 2024 at 11:25

Elena Rybakina reportedly dispensed with Stefano Vukov due to a culture of constant pressure and insults whilst he was involved with the World No.4 which led to psychological problems.

Rybakina according to Russian journalist Sofya Tartakova said that the issues she has dealt with in regards to constant injuries and illness has been due to the frantic and intense coaching style of Vukov.

She got rid of Vukov dramatically just three days before the US Open. There she played one match and withdrew from the tournament. She has targeted the WTA Finals for her return with a withdrawal from two tournaments since including this week's China Open.

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"All these difficulties that she [currently] faces, she faces because of a lot of very heavy pressure associated with her former coach Vukov,’ Tartakova told the Tennis Bolshei YouTube channel.

"They say that Stefano actually came to the US Open, that he was in New York, was ready to continue working with her, but Lena decided that they would break up because of a very difficult… I don’t want to say big words, not quite the correct attitude of her mentor towards her.

"That is, he “ate” her all the time, as people who surrounded Lena say. Rybakina’s parents stood up for her, because she could not break this vicious circle.

Elena Rybakina couldn't get out of vicious circle surrounding Vukov supposedly until US Open split.

"On one hand, this is the coach who worked with her since [a young age], and she herself, together with her family, chose him. It is clear that they were very close, she won the main achievements of her career thanks to their joint work, [but] her parents insisted that Lena change something in her tennis life, because there was pressure, and insults, and bad words said to her. They were constantly from Vukov’s lips.

"And now Elena Rybakina is suffering and trying to get rid of psychological problems, so the situation is, of course, very difficult for her, but we’ll see.

But whilst this has been said, Vukov has been subject to reports that he has been banned from the WTA Tour. The same journalist in question asked him and said he knew nothing of a ban so whether he returns to the tour is likely up to him finding his next protege.

"I tried to find out if there is official information that he is banned from the WTA Tour, because we discussed this several months ago, that a report was allegedly written on him and he was suspended from work.

"No one has officially confirmed this yet. We will find out very soon, if he finds another protégé, then this ban does not exist. But according to Vukov, as he positions himself, he does not have any ban. But it was a big surprise that Lena stopped working with him."

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Chris Evert

@ChrissieEvert

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Wishing Elena the best and hoping she comes back healthy and happy...🙏💪🏼❤️

Sebastien G.

@sebsharfam2

It's not surprising about it,we all guessed it was bad relationship with him. Glad her family and Elena took the right decision. Now she is free. It will takes a lot of time to be fully healed from this situation Just hopes she can go through and rebuild it All support Elena❤️

2:03 PM · Sep 24, 2024

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