"I wanted to have who I wanted in the coaching box" - Elena Rybakina opens up on coach Stefano Vukov being banned from 2025 Australian Open

Following her exit from the 2025 Australian Open, Elena Rybakina addressed not having coach Stefano Vukov in her coaching box, and hinted at an uncertain future with new coach Goran Ivanisevic.

The former Wimbledon champion fell to Madison Keys in the fourth round, as the in-form American recorded a 6-3 1-6 6-3 victory over the sixth-seeded Kazakh star. Prior to the Australian Open, the WTA announced they were putting Vukov under provisional suspension, meaning he could not be seated in Rybakina's coaching box during the Grand Slam tournament.

Read also

“Inappropriate and offensive”: Darren Cahill backs Novak Djokovic in Tony Jones controversy

Rybakina reveals she would have preferred to have Vukov present

After her loss to Keys, Rybakina was asked if Vukov's absence had affected her play during the tournament.

"As I said before, this is not the situation I want to be in," began the Kazakh star. "Of course, I wanted to have who I wanted to have in the box, but I couldn't change it and at the end of the day I just tried to focus on my matches and I spoke with him (Vukov). I also have Goran, so it didn't affect the way I played today or any of the results."

When asked if Ivanisevic would be a part of her coaching team going forward, Rybakina stated a decision had yet to be made regarding the matter.

"Well, we still need to talk of course because as I said, we just tried the preseason and this couple of tournament," said the 25-year old. "It was something we were just getting used to each other, so we'll talk (and see) what the schedule is going to look like."

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe