Elena Rybakina says she is disappointed by the WTA’s decision to uphold a ban against former coach Stefano Vukov after an investigation into a potential breach of its code of conduct.
Rybakina, who won the 2022 Wimbledon title under Vukov, ended their five-year partnership in August, days ahead of the US Open, where she withdrew before her second-round match.
In January, Vukov was provisionally suspended by the governing body of women’s tennis, after which Rybakina said he had “never mistreated her”.
Vukov denies wrongdoing and told The Athletic last month he “never abused anyone” after the media outlet first reported the WTA’s provisional ban.
Rybakina and Vukov parted ways in August, before she said he would return just before the Australian Open. (Getty Images: Tim Clayton/Corbis)
“The WTA confirms that the independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct by Stefano Vukov has concluded,” the WTA said in a statement.
“Following this process, the suspension remains in place. To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation and its findings, the WTA will not provide further details.
“We remain committed to ensuring that all matters are handled in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the WTA Code of Conduct.”
The WTA did not provide details on the length of the suspension.
Ahead of last month’s Australian Open, Rybakina said she would rehire Vukov to her team, which was reportedly a surprise to new coach Goran Ivanišević, who left Rybakina’s team after a fourth-round exit.
Vukov’s suspension made him ineligible to obtain a credential for tournaments and was reportedly not allowed at Melbourne Park.
“I’m just disappointed with the situation, and how the process went. I’m not going to comment much on that any more,” the 25-year-old world number seven told reporters after her win over Rebecca Šramková at the Qatar Open.
“I’m focusing on my matches, and when I go on the court I’m thinking only about the way I need to play, so I’m concentrating on myself, and also, of course, on the opponent.
“Definitely, it’s not the best time, but as I said, I’m always focusing on my matches and want to perform as best as I can.”
The Russian-born Kazakh added Italian former player Davide Sanguinetti to her team earlier this month.
Former world number one Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast that the tour breathed “a collective sigh of relief” after Vukov’s ban.
“There have been a lot of commentators who have sat near Vukov during matches and said the way he operates is kind of right there at the line of verbal abuse,” Roddick said.
“And that’s what we can see and that’s what he’s willing to do in front of thousands of people in a crowd.”
Rybakina’s next match in Doha is a quarterfinal clash with Iga Świątek, in a rematch of last year’s final won by Świątek.
Reuters
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