Just days after Elena Rybakina made the surprising announcement that she was reinstating Stefano Vukov as her coach—despite ongoing controversy surrounding their professional relationship—a new twist has emerged. The WTA has provisionally suspended Vukov amid an investigation into alleged misconduct. Vukov, who played a pivotal role in guiding Rybakina to her 2022 Wimbledon victory, now faces accusations of breaching the WTA’s Code of Conduct, as confirmed to BBC Sport.
Recent developments and suspension details
In August 2024, Rybakina ended her five-year partnership with Vukov, a collaboration that yielded significant success but was not without its share of controversy. At the start of 2025, Rybakina surprised the tennis world by announcing that she would reunite with the Croatian coach for the new season. However, the 37-year-old is now barred from receiving accreditation for WTA events, which prevents him from accessing exclusive player areas, including practice courts and training facilities.
The women’s tennis governing body stated, “While the WTA does not typically comment on active investigations, we believe it is necessary to clarify this matter due to recent public statements that misrepresent the situation.” They have declined to provide…
