"He's not the kindest" - Elena Rybakina's ex-coach Stefano Vukov comes under scrutiny as WTA ex-pro alleges past mishaps

Elena Rybakina's former coach Stefano Vukov is currently facing harsh criticism from the tennis community amid his provisional suspension by WTA following a potential breach of tour's conduct code. This came after the Kazakh announced that Stefano was rejoining her team ahead of the 2025 Australian Open. In light of the same, ex-pro Coco Vandeweghe expressed her criticism of Vukov and questioned Rybakina's decision to rehire him.

The Croatian was recently suspended by the WTA under violations of the conduct code. According to the freshly released guidelines, Vukov is reportedly prohibited from guiding Rybakina at the Australian Open or even the follow-up events until further notice. This comes after an investigation following complaints about Stefano's coaching conduct while mentoring Elena Rybakina.

In a conversation with Prakash Amritraj at the TC Live Podcast on January 4, former pro-Coco Vandeweghe criticized Vukov and also questioned Elena Rybakina's decision to bring him back on the team.

"I'm sorry but where there's smoke there's probably fire and I think that this is problematic at least. I mean, as much as I wanted to trust Elena Rybakina's opinion and choices, I've seen some other images I think we all have in matches, that Vukov is not the kindest," she said.

Coco also backed WTA's latest decision to suspend the Croatian coach, emphasizing that it was important to have protective measures in place.

"Sometimes other people need to protect you if you can't protect yourself and that's what the tours are trying to do from what they have seen and learned about Vukov," she added.

Elena Rybakina's collaboration with Stefano Vukov began in 2019. During this five-year period, the Croat helped the Kazakh win the 2022 Wimbledon Championships title and also secure a spot in the top 50. However, the partnership saw a controversial end as the coach faced accusations of questionable behavior on and off the court. Rybakina announced her split from Stefanos ahead of the 2024 US Open.

While Vukov himself denied any wrongdoing amid these allegations, renowned members of the tennis fraternity including Pam Shriver were critical of his behavior.

Shortly after the news of his provisional suspension, Rybakina came to the Croat's defense, mentioning that Vukov had 'never mistreated' her. Currently, the Kazakh is under the mentorship of Novak Djokovic's ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic, whom she hired in November last year.

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Novak Djokovic comments on Elena Rybakina's partnership with Goran Ivanisevic

2025 United Cup - Sydney: Day 9 - Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic was recently asked for his thoughts on his ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic joining forces with Elena Rybakina. The 24-time Grand Slam winner parted ways with Ivanisevic in March 2024 before announcing his partnership with former rival Andy Murray.

Amid his comeback campaign at Brisbane International, Djokovic mentioned how he sees Goran's collaboration with the Kazakh bringing positive returns.

“I was actually happy, because… we actually like Elena, the way she plays and how she is as a person. When he used to work with me, we always liked to watch her play," he said.

Djokovic also acknowledged Rybakina's previous achievements, making it clear that his ex-coach has the potential to provide the guidance that she needs.

“She's a top player. She's won a Grand Slam already, and she knows how that feels. I'm sure she's hungry for more and she seems to be very motivated. She started off the season, I saw, with a couple of good wins," he added.

After losing to Iga Swiatek-led Poland in the semifinals of the 2025 United Cup, Elena Rybakina turns her sight towards the upcoming Australian Open. Her best appearance at the tournament was a runner-up finish in 2023 when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka.