2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has defended her former coach Stefano Vukov, saying “he never abused me” after it emerged last week that Vukov has been provisionally suspended by the WTA Tour.
According to a WTA spokesperson, Vukov is under investigation for an alleged violation of the tour’s code of conduct. A ruling is expected to be made before the Australian Open, which starts in a week, but in the meantime he will not have access to tournament practice courts and other backstage areas.
“All I can say, and I’ve said it before, is that he never treated me badly or it was never anything like that,” Rybakina told BBC Sport on Saturday after losing to world number 2 Iga Swiatek in the United Cup in Sydney.
Vukov was Rybakina’s coach for five years, starting when she was 19, until they parted ways shortly before the US Open in August. But on Wednesday, she posted an unexpected message on Instagram welcoming him to the team.
The message did not specify what role Vukov would now fill, although people close to the situation say she would like him to function as a manager. Rybakina appointed another former Wimbledon champion – Goran Ivanisevic – as her new coach late last year.
“I mean, I’m working with Goran,” Rybakina said Saturday. “I am happy with the way we have been working in recent weeks. As I said, Stefano is coming back to the team because I have known the person for six years, and there are also a lot of things we can do off the field.
“Of course I’m not really happy with the situation. I’m not happy with the reactions I’m seeing, especially from the people on tour. They are active coaches, commentators. I don’t think it’s fair.
“Yes, but all I can say is that he never treated me badly. I respect him for everything he did from the very beginning when I was 200 [in the world] totally what we did.
‘That’s possible [try to] Tell me other coaches who had the same success with players who lived to 200 and went on to win a Grand Slam and be in the top ranks.
Rybakina’s complaints about comments made by coaches and commentators are likely to be directed at Pam Shriver, the former Wimbledon doubles champion who posted a critical tweet on Wednesday following the announcement of Vukov’s return.
It is understood that Portia Archer, the new CEO of the WTA, personally handled the Vukov situation. Vukov said on Thursday The Athletics website that he “absolutely never abused anyone.”
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