Stefano Vukov, the former coach of world No. 6 Elena Rybakina, won’t be allowed access to the 2025 Australian Open after the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced it was investigating him for a possible breach of the tour’s code of conduct.
Rybakina recently hired Goran Ivanisevic, Novak Djokovic’s former coach, for 2025 after she and Vukov parted ways in August. However, in an Instagram story on January 1, she announced that Vukov would be returning to her team.
Stefano Vukov, former coach of Elena Rybakina, has been suspended by the Women’s Tennis Association.Credit: Getty Images
However, the provisional ban means he would not be granted access to practice courts or to Rybakina’s player box at Melbourne Park, or any other WTA event.
According to The Athletic, the WTA launched the investigation last year after complaints were made about Vukov’s conduct, which had been described as intense and harsh by people in the sport.
Vukov, who coached Rybakina to her 2022 Wimbledon title, issued a statement to The Athletic during his flight from Dubai to Australia on Thursday. “Definitely never abused anyone,” it read.
The WTA confirmed the suspension in a statement to this masthead.
“The WTA can confirm that Stefano Vukov is currently under a provisional suspension pending an independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA code of conduct,” the statement read.
Elena Rybakina after winning Wimbledon in 2022.Credit: AP
“As part of the provisional suspension, Mr Vukov is not eligible to obtain a WTA credential at this time. 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.
“We will not provide further details at this point in time.”
Tennis Australia has been approached for comment.
American tennis legend-turned-commentator Pam Shriver has been vocal about Rybakina and Vukov’s working relationship.
“It’s time for our entire sport to finally stand up to known abuse and cult-like manipulations of players,” Shriver said in a post on X on January 2.
“This is a very sad situation and my prayers are with ER [Elena Rybakina].”
Shriver had previously posted on X back in January 2023 saying, “As I watch Rybakina try to win her second major in 7 months, I hope she finds a coach who speaks and treats her with respect at all times and does not ever accept anything less.”
Rybakina is currently in Sydney representing Kazakhstan at the 2025 United Cup, where she will play Iga Swiatek of Poland in a semi-final clash on Saturday.
The Australian Open main draw begins on January 12, where Rybakina will be one of the top-seeded women’s singles players.
In 2023, she reached the Australian Open final, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka.
