Fans concerned for Elena Rybakina as Kazakh re-hires controversial coach Stefanos Vukov: "This is just sad"

Elena Rybakina surprised tennis fans when she announced her decision to rehire controversial ex-coach Stefano Vukov on January 1. The duo had previously ended their partnership in late August, days before the 2024 US Open.

Rybakina and Vukov worked together from 2019 to 2024, during which she won her maiden Grand Slam title and rose to the World No. 3 position. While Vukov was instrumental in the 25-year-old's rise in women's tennis, his courtside antics and angry outbursts in the player's box during matches regularly attracted criticism from fans and pundits.

Due to these reasons, many in the tennis world were relieved that the Kazakhstani player had split with the Croat coach. However, Rybakina surprised the tennis world by announcing that she had rehired Vukov to join her team. Fans were left perplexed and distraught by the decision, and many questioned why she split with him just four months ago.

"What is wrong with her? I do not understand. I am feeling very angry and sad. Do not know what to think. Terrible start of the year," a fan posted on X.

"I’m just really hoping she’s okay and there’s nothing really bad going on. This whole situation is so off," a fan wrote.

Fans also pondered the implications of Vukov's hiring for the future of Rybakina's new head coach, Goran Ivanisevic. Novak Djokovic's former coach had joined her team in November, which excited many of her supporters. Some fans opined that Rybakina's move disrespects Ivanisevic and that he won't last long on her team.

"So why stop working together? This is disrespectful to the new coach Goran and all his fans. I don't understand this. Why doesn't he do an interview and make everything clear?" another fan said.

A fan wrote," Whattt? Why all these drama last year then? Seriously I have no words…I hope Goran shouldn’t fly away….such a bad news to start a new year."

Some fans dubbed Rybakina and Vukov's relationship the most "toxic" in the tennis world.

"Cancel 2025 already," a fan commented.

"Rybakina is like that one friend that keeps being in that toxic relationship despite all her friends telling her to break up," a fan joked.

"Vukov - Elena gotta be the most toxic coach-athlete ever," another fan posted on X.

Ahead of the announcement, Stefano Vukov had hinted that his time with Elena Rybakina had not ended yet.

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Stefano Vukov announced plans to support Elena Rybakina at Australian Open 2025

Elena Rybakina (Source: Getty)

Just a day before Elena Rybakina publicly announced her rehiring of Stefano Vukov, Russian journalist Sofya Tartakova reported that the Croat planned to fly to Melbourne to support Rybakina at the 2025 Australian Open. Vukov told Tartakova about her plans in a conversation on December 30.

Vukov also emphasized that his relationship with Rybakina had not soured and rubbished the rumors that he was banned by WTA after ending his collaboration with her. Interestingly, in her reporting, Tartakova stressed that Vukov would not be an official member of the Rybakina team, a point which has now been rendered null and void.

Elena Rybakina is currently competing in the 2025 United Cup and has guided Kazakhstan to the semifinals after they defeated defending champion Germany in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they will face Iga Swiatek's Poland or Katie Boulter's Great Britain.