Stefano Vukov has successfully appealed his WTA Tour suspension, clearing the way for his return as Elena Rybakina's coach. The Croatian mentor, who was barred from the tour in February following a code of conduct investigation, is now eligible to receive credentials at WTA events.
"The WTA is fully committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all athletes and other participants, as set out in our WTA Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Code," the organization stated in their announcement to The Athletic.
Vukov's one-year ban had prevented him from attending stadiums, practice courts, player accommodations, and other tournament facilities. The controversial coach had been accused of serious misconduct, including mental abuse and pushing Rybakina beyond her physical limits.
Interestingly, the 2022 Wimbledon champion had already announced on January 1 that Vukov would be rejoining her coaching team for the 2025 campaign, despite their previous separation in August last year. Throughout the controversy, Rybakina consistently maintained that Vukov "has never mistreated" her and openly expressed disappointment regarding his ban.
The allegations against Vukov were quite serious. According to reports, WTA Tour chief executive Portia Archer informed Rybakina and Vukov that he had violated the tour's code by calling her "stupid" and making inappropriate comments about her Russian heritage. The investigation also concluded he had made Rybakina cry and subjected her to mental abuse.
Despite the official suspension, the 26-year-old Kazakh continued working with Vukov outside of tournaments. She also added Italian coach Davide Sanguinetti to her team in February following the ban.
"Vukov and Elena are close, he will always be there," Sanguinetti told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Stefano and I talk a lot, we are on the same wavelength. It's not a problem to have two coaches, it's almost a trend now."
Rybakina, who recently lost to Victoria Mboko in the Montreal semifinals, is scheduled to face Renata Zarazua in her opening match at the Cincinnati Open. Will this coaching stability finally bring the consistency her game has been lacking this season?
