Despite falling to Elena Rybakina in their quarterfinal match at the 2023 China Open, Aryna Sabalenka was in good enough spirits to acknowledge her rival's coach, Stefano Vukov, as she left the court after the match.

World No.5 Rybakina defeated the reigning Australian Open champion 7-5 6-2, displaying some exceptional shot-making agility as she neutralized her opponent's power and secure her spot in the semifinal.

Following her defeat, Sabalenka packed her bags and strolled off the court. However, the World No.1 made a detour as she walked towards Vukov, exchanging a fist bump before exiting the court.

Stefano Vukov took over as Rybakina's coach in 2019 after her split from Andrei Chesnokov. The Croatian coach has played a role in Rybakina's recent success, as the Kazakh star has won some impressive titles, including the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, the 2023 Indian Wells title, and the 2023 Italian Open.