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  • Elena Rybakina & Stefano Vukov controversy ‘a completely strange story’


    Croatian-American WTA player Bernarda Pera has described the controversy involving Elena Rybakina and coach Stefano Vukov as “a completely strange story.”

    It emerged earlier this month that Vukov, who was Rybakina’s coach from 2019 to 2024, had been suspended by the WTA amid an investigation into a breach of their code of conduct.

    The news was reported by The Athletic the day after Rybakina confirmed Vukov would be making a shock return to the 25-year-old’s team just months after she split with the Croatian in August 2024.

    After parting ways with Vukov, Rybakina appointed 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic as her head coach at the end of the 2024 season.

    Vukov did not receive accreditation for the Australian Open, with Tennis Australia upholding the WTA’s provisional suspension.

    Rybakina has been accompanied by Ivanisevic in Melbourne, where she is aiming to win her second Grand Slam title to add to her 2022 Wimbledon crown.

    The world No 7 has progressed to the fourth round without losing a set, although there is concern over her physical state after she suffered an injury in her third round win over Dayana Yastremska.

    Pera, the current world No 78 who peaked at 27th in the WTA Rankings in 2023, lost in the first round of the Australian Open to Tatjana Maria.

    In an interview with Serbian outlet Sport Klub, Pera weighed in on the Rybakina-Vukov situation.

    “Little is known about that situation. I think they are waiting for the WTA and I don’t think he can enter the tournament,” the 30-year-old said.

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    “In my opinion, a completely strange story. I don’t even know how much I can say, how much I can’t.

    “I was never present in a situation where he mistreated her, so I can’t say what happened, but I’m definitely against any kind of abuse.”

    Prior to the Australian Open, Ivanisevic hinted he may leave his role as Rybakina’s coach as a result of the Vukov controversy.

    “Really, it’s not good for anybody,” the former world No 2 told Bounces.

    “Listen, the investigation is still on, so we wait for WTA to finish, and then I can talk about everything. But until then… I spoke to Elena; I told her what I think.

    “I am, for the moment, here. What’s going to happen in a couple of days, I don’t know. But for the moment, I am here. Hopefully I will stay, and hopefully everything is going to be OK. But let’s take day by day.

    “Listen, I don’t want to… It’s a very strange situation. So I don’t want to, really. I can talk to you after WTA makes the decision, and then we can.

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    The recent controversy surrounding rising tennis stars Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov has left fans scratching their heads in confusion. What initially seemed like a friendly rivalry on the courts has taken a bizarre turn, with accusations of sabotage, mind games, and even possible espionage.

    It all started when Rybakina accused Vukov of tampering with her equipment during a practice session, leading to a string of losses in important tournaments. Vukov vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that Rybakina was simply experiencing a slump in form.

    Things escalated when Rybakina’s coach revealed that they had discovered a hidden camera in her locker room, allegedly installed by Vukov’s team in an attempt to gain a competitive edge. Vukov’s camp denied any involvement, but the damage had already been done.

    As the tennis world buzzes with speculation and conspiracy theories, one thing is clear: this is a completely strange story that has taken an unexpected turn. Fans are left wondering what will happen next and how this controversy will impact the careers of these two promising young players.

    Stay tuned as more details unfold in what is sure to be a dramatic saga in the world of professional tennis.

    Tags:

    Elena Rybakina, Stefano Vukov, controversy, strange story, tennis scandal, social media uproar, player drama, sports gossip, scandalous news, controversial athletes, drama in sports, tennis controversy, strange sports story, viral scandal, professional athletes scandal

    #Elena #Rybakina #Stefano #Vukov #controversy #completely #strange #story

  • “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire”: CoCo Vandeweghe backs WTA investigation of Elena Rybakina ex-coach Stefano Vukov


    “I’d be surprised if we see Goran at AO,” continued Vandeweghe, speaking to The Athletic’s reporting that Ivanisevic was “blindsided” by the news that Rybakina planned to re-hire Vukov. “I think this kind of movement going on the coaching carousel that is Elena Rybakina’s team, I wouldn’t want to be the new coach that’s supposed to be the new coach for Elena Rybakina and bringing in an old voice again. That means you don’t trust me enough to make you better, put you in that next step forward, which is what Elena Rybakina was looking for.”

    A former Wimbledon champion, Rybakina has enjoyed an unbeaten start to the year at United Cup, leading Kazakhstan into the semifinals, but is playing her first match since the news broke on Saturday against rival and former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

    “It’s never easy, especially when you’ve had a long relationship with someone, to be able to draw boundaries if those boundaries need to be drawn,” echoed fellow Tennis Channel Live analyst Prakash Amritraj. “Rybakina has this beautiful light about her; we don’t want to see her down, we don’t want to see her dim. Hopefully, she can make the healthiest decision for herself, but there’s certainly miscommunication and contradiction in what seems to be going on.”

    Rybakina is yet to comment on the matter since announcing that Vukov would be in Melbourne to “support” her during the Australian Open next week.



    American tennis player CoCo Vandeweghe has publicly voiced her support for the WTA’s investigation into allegations against Elena Rybakina’s former coach, Stefano Vukov. Vandeweghe, known for her strong stance against corruption in the sport, emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.

    In a recent interview, Vandeweghe stated, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. It’s crucial for the integrity of the sport that these allegations are thoroughly investigated and appropriate actions are taken. We cannot turn a blind eye to any form of misconduct, especially when it involves coaches who hold significant influence over players.”

    Vukov has been accused of engaging in unethical behavior, including pressuring players to tank matches and engage in match-fixing. The WTA has launched an investigation into these allegations, with Vandeweghe and other players showing their support for the organization’s efforts to maintain a clean and fair playing field.

    As the tennis community awaits the outcome of the investigation, Vandeweghe’s vocal support serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the values of honesty and sportsmanship in the sport. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story. #JusticeInTennis #CleanSport.

    Tags:

    • CoCo Vandeweghe
    • WTA investigation
    • Elena Rybakina
    • Stefano Vukov
    • Tennis scandal
    • Professional tennis coaches
    • Player-coach relationships
    • Women’s Tennis Association
    • Tennis news
    • Sports investigations

    #smoke #fire #CoCo #Vandeweghe #backs #WTA #investigation #Elena #Rybakina #excoach #Stefano #Vukov

  • Elena Rybakina’s ex-coach Stefano Vukov suspended as WTA investigation continues

    Elena Rybakina’s ex-coach Stefano Vukov suspended as WTA investigation continues


    Concerns have regularly been raised over the past few seasons about Vukov’s behaviour towards Rybakina.

    The manner in which he talks to her – on and off court at tournaments – has come under scrutiny, although it is not known exactly which part of the WTA’s Code of Conduct he is alleged to have broken.

    On Thursday, he told The Athletic – which first reported the story about his provisional ban – that he “never abused anyone”.

    Pam Shriver, a former Grand Slam doubles champion who coaches Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic, has been one of the most vocal critics of Vukov’s behaviour.

    During Rybakina’s run to the 2023 Australian Open final, Shriver urged the player to find a coach who “speaks and treats her with respect at all times”.

    In response, Rybakina refuted suggestions Vukov had stepped over acceptable boundaries, calling them “disturbing” and “fake news”.

    When Rybakina announced she was re-employing Vukov, Shriver used social media to call on the “entire sport to finally stand up to known abuse and cult-like manipulations of players”.

    Vukov began coaching Rybakina when she was a teenager, guiding her to become one of the WTA Tour’s leading players.

    The partnership ended before last year’s US Open and she appointed Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach.

    What her intention to bring back Vukov means for Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon champion who coached Novak Djokovic for many years, is unclear.

    Ivanisevic’s representatives confirmed to BBC Sport that he was working with Rybakina on a trial basis, which will be reviewed at the end of the Australian Open.



    Elena Rybakina’s ex-coach Stefano Vukov suspended as WTA investigation continues

    The tennis world has been rocked by the news that Elena Rybakina’s former coach, Stefano Vukov, has been suspended by the WTA as their investigation into alleged misconduct continues.

    Vukov, who worked with Rybakina during her rise to the top of the women’s game, has been accused of violating the WTA’s code of conduct. The exact nature of the allegations has not been made public, but the WTA has deemed them serious enough to warrant Vukov’s suspension pending the outcome of their investigation.

    Rybakina, who is currently ranked in the top 10 in the world, has not made any public statements regarding the situation. It remains to be seen how this suspension will impact her career moving forward.

    The tennis world is eagerly awaiting the results of the WTA’s investigation and hoping for a swift resolution to this troubling situation. Stay tuned for further updates as more information becomes available.

    Tags:

    Elena Rybakina, Stefano Vukov, WTA investigation, tennis coach, suspension, professional tennis player

    #Elena #Rybakinas #excoach #Stefano #Vukov #suspended #WTA #investigation #continues

  • Pam Shriver wildly speculates abuse, worried for Elena Rybakina after Kazakh re-hires controversial coach Stefano Vukov

    Pam Shriver wildly speculates abuse, worried for Elena Rybakina after Kazakh re-hires controversial coach Stefano Vukov


    Pam Shriver recently laid bare her concern for Elena Rybakina after the Kazakh confirmed the return of coach Stefano Vukov to her team for the 2025 season. Shriver speculated that Vukov had abused Rybakina during their previous working collaboration.

    On January 1, 2025, Rybakina made the announcement of Vukov rejoining her coaching setup via an Instagram Story.

    “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 “

    This development was later reported by a popular tennis page on X (formerly Twitter), which prompted American former World No. 3 Pam Shriver to deliver her reaction. The 62-year-old bemoaned the situation, speculating abuse directed at Rybakina by Vukov previously.

    “It’s time for our entire sport to finally stand up to known abuse and cult like manipulations of players. This is a very sad situation and my prayers are with ER,” Shriver wrote.

    In the buildup to the 2024 US Open, Rybakina parted ways with Vukov following a successful five-year collaboration that yielded all eight of the Kazakh’s WTA Tour-level titles so far, including the 2022 Wimbledon Championships women’s singles crown. Not long after, Rybakina announced that former ATP No. 2 and Novak Djokovic’s ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic would be coaching her in 2025.

    Rybakina and Vukov’s previous working relationship was often speculated to be an unhealthy one. There were rumors of Vukov being excessively tough in his approach to coaching Rybakina, during both matches and training sessions. These rumors gained further traction last year after the Kazakh withdrew from a number of high-profile tournaments citing health concerns.

    However, Rybakina herself downplayed the speculation surrounding her relationship with Vukov ahead of the 2024 WTA Finals.

    Elena Rybakina dismissed controversial suggestions regarding relationship with Stefano Vukov

    In Picture: Elena Rybakina (Source: Getty)In Picture: Elena Rybakina (Source: Getty)
    In Picture: Elena Rybakina (Source: Getty)

    At a pre-tournament press conference in the buildup to the 2024 WTA Finals, Elena Rybakina spoke up about the rumors that cast doubt on her relationship with Stefano Vukov. The former World No. 3 was dismissive of them and stated that her decision to replace Vukov with Ivanisevic stemmed from her desire to enter a new phase in her career.

    “I know that a lot of I guess rumors going on. But honestly we just part ways with Stefano. I think we had incredible results over five years. We achieved a lot. I started with him when I was 200. I think it’s just now next chapter of my career. I want to make next step. But yeah, I did stop with Stefano, like as any other coaches and players do,” Rybakina said.

    The Kazakh is yet to reveal how the working dynamic in her team will change now that she has brought Vukov back into the fold. Right now, Rybakina is enjoying a hot streak at the ongoing 2025 United Cup, where she has spearheaded Kazakhstan to the semifinals.