"Stefano Vukov knows how to bring her back to the ideal state with his own methods": Elena Vesnina defends Rybakina’s controversial reunion with ex-coach

Former doubles World No. 1 Elena Vesnina recently analyzed the dramatic conclusion to the 2025 WTA season, which offered one of the year's most compelling narratives as former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina lifted the trophy at the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

The Kazakh star staged a remarkable late-season rally, securing the prestigious title in Saudi Arabia and clawing her way back to a year-end ranking of World No. 5. Rybakina ended the year on a blistering 11-match winning streak—claiming titles in Ningbo and the WTA Finals—transforming a season that saw her on the brink of falling out of the Top 10 into a resounding success. The former world No. 3 appears fully back in form; following the season’s transition to hardcourts post-Wimbledon, she compiled a staggering 27-6 record, more wins than any other player in the second half of the year.

Rybakina’s season had been defined by instability in her coaching box, moving from Goran Ivanisevic to Davide Sanguinetti before eventually reintegrating Stefano Vukov into her setup late in the year. The return of Vukov was met with significant skepticism from the media and fans alike, given the previous investigations and sanctions that had kept him away from the tour for much of 2025. Yet, the results on the court told a different story, culminating in a dominant performance in Saudi Arabia that silenced many critics. Vesnina suggests that the external noise ignored the fundamental effectiveness of their working relationship.

“I have always believed in Elena. I really like the way she plays, the kind of person she is, the kind of tennis player she is,” the former Wimbledon semifinalist analyzed in conversation with Russian outlet Championat. “Although many doubted her reunion with her coach, I have seen Stefano Vukov work and I have heard his advice. He knows her very well and tells her what she needs to do.”

Vesnina argues that Rybakina’s specific personality type requires a coach who can penetrate her natural reserve. While the public often criticized Vukov’s intense courtside manner, Vesnina posits that this intensity acts as a necessary counterbalance to Rybakina's demeanor, stabilizing her game when she drifts mentally.

“I think Lena has calmed down because she has reunited with someone who knows her very well, knows her strengths and weaknesses, and knows how to, so to speak, 'wake her up.' Because Lena, due to her somewhat phlegmatic temperament, sometimes seems to withdraw into herself and reflect. And Stefano Vukov knows how to bring her back to the ideal state with his own methods: 'So you are on the court. You are winning, come on, you are a machine, you are working hard.'”

The climax of the season in Riyadh was a revelation even for seasoned observers. Rybakina’s victory over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka served as the ultimate validation of her decisions, displaying a level of tactical clarity and aggression that impressed her compatriot.

“And, frankly, I hoped, but I didn't think, that she would play as cleanly as she did in the final in Riyadh,” the Olympic gold medalist added. “The matches she played, the level she showed, sincerely shocked me. And because of how she played the final against Sabalenka, I felt that Aryna would have a hard time against Rybakina. She doesn't like playing against such forceful players, who start hitting her with her own weapons.”

Perhaps the most defining characteristic of Rybakina’s 2025 resurgence was her demeanor. Amidst the swirling rumors about her coaching situation and the high stakes of the biggest payout in WTA history, she appeared entirely unbothered. Vesnina compared this composure to the casual atmosphere of a local club tournament, highlighting the rare mental fortitude that separates major champions from the rest of the field.

“It was simply incredible the calmness with which Lena handled herself in this tournament. As if it were, you know, just any tournament, around here at Spartak. But she also won Wimbledon. That is the temperament and the character she has. So it is fantastic that Lena has been able to recover and return to the top of the WTA rankings.”

With her ranking restored and her team settled, Rybakina has already defined her first challenge of the new season. She is set to compete at the Brisbane International starting January 5—a tournament she won in 2024 but was unable to defend in 2025. It will be her sole warm-up event prior to the Australian Open, where she will be defending fourth-round points after falling to eventual champion Madison Keys this year.