4 months after controversial split-up, Elena Rybakina re-hires coach Stefano Vukov in shocking update ahead of Australian Open 2025

Elena Rybakina has issued a shocking update ahead of the 2025 season involving one ex-coach Stefano Vukov. Just four months after they ended their partnership, Rybakina has now rehired Vukov to join her team ahead of the Australian Open.

Just before the 2024 US Open, Rybakina announced that she and Vukov would be parting ways. At the time, it came as no surprise, with their partnership often criticized by fans and players for the way Vukov treated the Kazakh on the court at times.

However, in a later update, Rybakina clarified that they ended the partnership mutually and that she had no ill feelings against him. To fill his position, she also hired Goran Ivanisevic, Novak Djokovic's ex-coach, as her next mentor.

Now in action at the United Cup, Rybakina took to social media to break the news that she has decided to work against Stefano Vukov.

"Hello everyone, I am excited to announce that Stefano will be joining the team for the 2025 season. Thank you all for the support And wishing you a great 2025," Rybakina wrote on Instagram.

In fact, days earlier, this reunion was hinted at by journalist Sofya Tartakova, who had also confirmed that, unlike as previously reported, Vukov was not barred by the WTA from working as a coach on the tour.

Elena Rybakina currently working with Goran Ivanisevic at United Cup

2025 United Cup - Perth: Day 6 - Source: Getty

At the moment, however, Goran Ivanisevic remains Elena Rybakina's head coach. The Kazakh has led her team into the semifinals of the United Cup, where they will next take on either Iga Swiatek's Poland or the Katie Boulter-led Great Britain.

Rybakina has expressed her full confidence in Ivanisevic, stating in her pre-tournament press conference at the event that she was learning from him every day.

We had a couple of weeks together, Goran’s a fun guy. I can’t say too much about our work, but we had a good preparation," Rybakina said.

"Not much time has passed but I’m already getting experience from him, especially as a player, how he used to prepare. I’m learning every day, I’m feeling much better physically and hopefully we can do well here," she added.

Rybakina is 3-0 at the tournament, with her biggest win coming against Maria Sakkari of Greece in straight sets.