"She never came to me personally, never talked with me": Elena Rybakina defends Stefano Vukov after criticism from Pam Shriver

World number five Elena Rybakina has hit back at former doubles world number one Pam Shriver regarding her comments about her former coach Stefano Vukov. The 25-year-old has been in the news for the wrong reasons, largely because of the recent shuffles in the coaching staff.

The one-time Grand Slam winner first parted ways with Vukov and hired Goran Ivanisevic but decided to re-include her former coach in the coaching staff. That decision backfired as Vukov was provisionally by WTA for allegedly breaching the code of conduct.

Recently, former doubles world number one Shriver, who has lifted 21 double Grand Slam titles in her illustrious career, raised concern about Vukov’s behaviour in the past. Rybakina, who is currently in Melbourne to participate in the upcoming Australian Open, has been quoted in a report by the English media outlet Daily Express, in which she hit back at Shriver and defended her coach.

“I don't want to speak much about what's going to be next,” she said. “But definitely, I don't agree with a lot of things what WTA do in the sense of my relationship with Stefano. As I said before, I have never made any complaints or any of these things. I always said that he never mistreated me. That's one thing. I don't really want to speak about this more. I want to focus on my matches here.”

“Well, I get that one of coaches, Pam Shriver, I don't know her personally. She never came to me personally, never talked with me, but I know her story. It's sad, but it doesn't mean other players facing the same issues.

"Since she doesn't know me, I don't know her, I don't think it's fair to make any comments like that, especially being an active coach, being commentator, journalist, so on.”

The first Grand Slam of the year will begin on Sunday, and players from all over the world will participate to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize. Rybakina will face Australia’s Emerson Jones in the round of 128 on Tuesday. The Moscow-born has an impressive record while playing in Melbourne. In 2023, she finished as the runner-up at the Australian Open after losing to reigning world number one Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.