Stefano Vukov bizarrely set for return to Elena Rybakina setup at Australian Open despite split and Goran Ivanisevic hire

Despite a fairly public split in September during the US Open, Stefano Vukov who coached Elena Rybakina throughout her successful run towards the top will return to the fold at the Australian Open in a support role reportedly.

Vukov was a controversial figure and was the subject of much rumours including that he had been banned from the WTA as he was removed from the coaching list. But Sofya Tartakova, a tennis insider who also confirmed previously about the supposed treatment of Vukov towards Rybakina said he was not banned.

"All these difficulties that she [currently] faces, she faces because of a lot of very heavy pressure associated with her former coach Vukov,’ Tartakova told the Tennis Bolshei YouTube channel earlier in 2024.

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"They say that Stefano actually came to the US Open, that he was in New York, was ready to continue working with her, but Lena decided that they would break up because of a very difficult… I don’t want to say big words, not quite the correct attitude of her mentor towards her.

"That is, he “ate” her all the time, as people who surrounded Lena say. Rybakina’s parents stood up for her, because she could not break this vicious circle.

"On one hand, this is the coach who worked with her since [a young age], and she herself, together with her family, chose him. It is clear that they were very close, she won the main achievements of her career thanks to their joint work, [but] her parents insisted that Lena change something in her tennis life, because there was pressure, and insults, and bad words said to her. They were constantly from Vukov’s lips.

"And now Elena Rybakina is suffering and trying to get rid of psychological problems, so the situation is, of course, very difficult for her, but we’ll see.

Elena Rybakina has started the season well at the United Cup with Goran Ivanisevic by her side.

According to Tartakova in a message sent from Vukov to her, she was informed that he will travel to Melbourne on January 4th and that he is in touch with the former Wimbledon champion to support her at the tournament as well as there being no ban from the WTA.

This is all despite Rybakina hiring Goran Ivanisevic in the mean time during the close season in what was a highly touted appointment but it seems like she will lean on both coaches during the Australian Open.

Despite the rumours that engulfed Vukov, Rybakina spoke with praise about him and just said it was time to move on in Riyadh. But it seems that is not the case.

“Well, I know that a lot of I guess rumors going on,” Rybakina said ahead of the WTA Finals in Riyadh. “But honestly we just part ways with Stefano."

“I think we had incredible results over five years. We achieved a lot. I started with him when I was 20. I think it's just now next chapter of my career. I want to make next step.

“But yeah, I did stop with Stefano, like as any other coaches and players do, so…”

“But we are good with Stefano. I just wish him also all the best in his new chapter.”

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