“Quite a strange story”: Bernarda Pera shares her thoughts on Rybakina-Vukov drama

Thursday, 16 January 2025 at 19:13

Bernarda Pera voiced her opinion on the controversial case involving Elena Rybakina and her former (and now reinstated) coach, Stefano Vukov. The current World No. 78 suffered an early exit at the Australian Open after losing to Tatjana Maria (6-7, 4-6) in the first round and addressed one of the most debated topics on the WTA Tour at the start of the year.

The 30-year-old described the story as "quite strange" and acknowledged she had never personally witnessed any type of mistreatment from a coach.

Coaching drama for Rybakina

World No. 6 Rybakina had a rollercoaster year in 2024. She reached several finals, won three titles, and finished the season with an impressive 42-11 record. However, she also withdrew or retired from multiple tournaments due to back and stomach issues.

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Russian tennis journalist Sonya Tartakova reported that Rybakina faced significant mental stress due to her difficult relationship with Vukov. "Right now, Elena is under a lot of stress; it is something psychosomatic. She is in a chaotic moment, completely disorganised, and unable to play. All these difficulties stem from the tremendous pressure associated with her former coach, Vukov," Tartakova said in September.

"I don’t want to use overly strong words, but let’s say his attitude towards her wasn’t entirely correct," she added. "He ‘ate her up’ all the time, as people close to Elena said. Her parents intervened because she couldn’t break free from this vicious cycle."

Pera discusses Rybakina’s coach scandal

The American anticipated the possible end of her career sooner rather than later, acknowledging she had set no specific goals for 2025. "I have no goals; I feel like I’m slowly nearing the end of my career, so I don’t have big objectives," she admitted.

Pera’s best results include two WTA 250 titles in 2022 (Budapest and Hamburg), both on clay, and her career-best Grand Slam result was reaching the fourth round of the French Open in 2024.

Following her Melbourne exit, Bernarda Pera spoke to Serbian outlet SportKlub, where she shared her perspective on the Rybakina case. "Little is known about the situation. I think they are waiting for the WTA, and I don't think he [Vukov] can enter the tournament. A pretty strange story, in my opinion," she said.

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"I don't even know how much I can say and how much I can't. I’ve never been in a situation where I saw him mistreat her, so I can't say what happened, but I’m definitely against any kind of abuse," she added.

Rybakina had parted ways with Vukov in late 2024 and later announced Goran Ivanisevic – Novak Djokovic’s former coach – as his replacement, seemingly putting an end to the Vukov saga. However, shortly before the Australian Open, Rybakina surprised fans by announcing Vukov’s return to her team, despite his provisional WTA suspension while investigations into possible mistreatment continue.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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