Rennae Stubbs calls for lifetime ban on Rybakina’s coach amid mistreatment allegation
WTASunday, 16 February 2025 at 04:30
Rennae Stubbs, former coach of Serena Williams, insists that Elena Rybakina’s coach should be banned for life. Despite ongoing controversies surrounding alleged mistreatment of the Kazakh player, Stefano Vukov will continue coaching the former Wimbledon champion.
Addressing the situation, Stubbs stated on her podcast that the punishment was insufficient and should be permanent:"In that respect, that is her work environment saying, 'Sorry, this is unacceptable, you are banned for a year.' And quite honestly, I think he should be banned forever on the WTA Tour."
"There’s no question about it"
Stubbs also claimed that Rybakina and Vukov operate in a toxic environment:"Look, some of us know a lot more than others. I was clearly around this toxic environment with him and her quite often. I have spoken about it on the podcast many times, and you know, people did say, 'Well, it’s her decision."
"Yes, it is her decision, but there are a lot of coercive-controlled relationships that get really toxic and really bad. Do I think she is in an environment that is not healthy for her? Absolutely! There’s no question about it."
Stubbs believes that multiple staff resignations within Rybakina’s team in recent months further confirm the unhealthy situation:"You don’t see her coach Goran Ivanisevic decide after this time, even though he enjoyed working with her, say, 'I'm outta here,' because he’s clearly seeing stuff that he’s not okay with too."
Despite the controversy, the current WTA No. 7 must shift her focus to her next challenge at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. She will face the winner between Moyuka Uchijima and Jelena Ostapenko in the round of 32. Recently, she reached the quarterfinals in Doha, where she lost to Iga Swiatek.
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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