"You're here for a new voice": Elena Rybakina rehiring Stefano Vukov leaves Coco Vandeweghe puzzled
WTA
Elena Rybakina started the 2025 season brightly with many remarking that she had changed and had started to smile again after hiring Goran Ivanisevic. But she has decided to rehire Stefano Vukov to her coaching setup, a decision that has puzzled many including Coco Vandeweghe.
Speaking on Tennis Channel as they summed up the news, she remarked that she hired Ivanisevic for a new voice not to go back suddenly to what was in the past. Albeit with the caveat that in her view, if it works for Rybakina it has to be trusted.
Vukov coached Rybakina for five years before they parted ways prior to the US Open in 2024. The former was no stranger to controversy with his coaching methods questioned. He was also subject to rumours by a tennis insider that he was reportedly abusive and banned by the WTA after their split.
But after the same insider spoke to Vukov, he confirmed that he wasn't banned and would be joining Rybakina in Australia as support. It was then confirmed by the former Wimbledon champion that she would be adding him to her team again for the 2025 season.
This garnered a pretty damning reaction on social media especially after Rybakina hired such a revered coach as Goran Ivanisevic and how their relationship will work now with Vukov in the periphery.
"As we saw, it wasn't the healthiest of relationships when they did split so I'm konda putting a question mark out here of why when you signed on Goran so why would you go back to the old. You're here for a new voice and a different kinda perspective," she said.
"So why would you go back to an old coach. Maybe it wasn't the healthiest but only Elena Rybakina knows. Her own reasoning, her own motivation so you gotta just trust her decision making," she added.
Elena Rybakina reunites with ex-coach Stefano Vukov ahead of 2025 Australian Open.
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 2, 2025
Goran Ivanisevic will remain as Rybakina's head coach 💪#TCLive pic.twitter.com/0x8ttxiLMk
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