Elena Rybakina's ex-coach Stefano Vukov banned for one year as alarming summary of alleged abuse, harassment and romantic relationship emerges
WTA
Earlier on Tuesday, Stefano Vukov's suspension from the WTA Tour was confirmed to stand and 'remains in place' but this caused more confusion as to the length of ban and what this now means for Elena Rybakina. But alarming details have since emerged.
As per The Athletic, Vukov has been banned for a year from the WTA Tour. The one year suspension began on January 31 which means he will miss about a year and a half give or take given the provisional time he has already served.
A statement wrote: “The WTA confirms that the independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct by Stefano Vukov has concluded.
“Following this process, the suspension remains in place. To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation and its findings, the WTA will not provide further details. We remain committed to ensuring that all matters are handled in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the WTA Code of Conduct.”
Portia Archer, the chief executive of the WTA Tour in a three page summary issued to the pair amid his box said that he had violated the code of conduct by calling her 'stupid' and telling her without him she would “still be in Russia picking potatoes". This per a source who has reviewed the letter and is in contact with Rybakina's team then shared with the online publication.
Archer also stated in the letter that the investigators concluded that Vukov had subjected Rybakina to mental abuse and pushed her to beyond her limits which resulted in her well documented illness troubles. The former Wimbledon champion spent most of last season in particular on and off the court with bizarre illnesses.
Archer also concluded in the report that Vukov had harassed Rybakina by refusing to leave her alone during the US Open when he dismissed her. He also as a result violated the 'no contact' directive that was part of the provisional suspension.
“We need a safe environment for everyone," Archer stated while also making it clear in the view of their report that they have a 'toxic relationship' stating also that there is increasing evidence that the pair are also involved in a romantic relationship.
Rybakina since his return to the team and also his suspension soon after has stood by Vukov and with Davide Sanguinetti now part of the team, he is somebody who is open about being in contact with Vukov. How this now affects the former Wimbledon champion remains to be seen and whether he still coaches her on the sidelines despite being banned.
Facing off against Peyton Stearns today, she won 6-2, 6-4. She was asked about Vukov again post match but didn't seem to know anything about the ban albeit given it wasn't then public knowledge, it is likely that she has since digested the news hence also the recent appointment of the Italian.
Amid all of the news surrounding the pair, she now encounters her next test in Doha facing Rebecca Sramkova and if she wins, the questions will likely intenstify.
Stefano Vukov banned for a year, report @CDEccleshare and @MattFutterman on @TheAthletic.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 11, 2025
The details are bizarre:
- Mental and physical abuse resulting in constant illnesses
- Harassment after being fired in August
- They shared a room in Melbourne during the AO
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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