Latest news with #StefanoVukov
New York Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Elena Rybakina's barred coach, Stefano Vukov, appeals 1-year WTA tennis ban
Stefano Vukov, the suspended coach of 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, has appealed his one-year suspension from coaching and obtaining credentials for women's tennis events. Two people briefed on the appeal and the arbitration process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships in tennis, said Vukov is seeking to overturn his ban from the WTA Tour. Advertisement Vukov, who was suspended by the WTA Tour for breaching its code of conduct, is now in private arbitration with the governing body of women's tennis, per the sources. The WTA declined to comment, citing the fact that it does not discuss confidential arbitration processes. Vukov, who now acts as Rybakina's agent, did not respond to messages seeking comment. Vukov has pursued relief through arbitration because under WTA rules, disputes must be resolved in this manner, rather than in court. Under the conditions of the suspension, Vukov is prohibited from being credentialed for WTA Tour events. It also prevents him from accessing stadiums, practice courts and other facilities on site at events, as well as player accommodations. The four Grand Slams — Wimbledon, the Australian, French, and U.S. Opens — are honoring the ban. Vukov, who was in Melbourne with Rybakina for January's Australian Open, was barred from entering practice courts or her box. The WTA provisionally suspended Vukov last fall when it opened an investigation into his behavior, as reported by The Athletic in January. Rybakina fired Vukov just before the U.S. Open. The WTA's investigation in Vukov's behavior commenced shortly after the final major of the season, and concluded four months later. His actions in response to his dismissal, which included walking the lobby of her Manhattan hotel and flooding her phone with calls and messages in a bid to get her to take him back, pushed members of her team to tell WTA officials that they feared for her safety. In February, WTA Tour chief executive issued Vukov with a one-year ban, informing him that he had engaged in 'abuse of authority and abusive conduct,' toward Rybakina. In a confidential three-page letter summarizing the investigation obtained by The Athletic, Archer said Vukov had called Rybakina 'stupid' and 'retarded.' She wrote that he had told her she would 'still be picking potatoes' in Russia without him, and concluded that Vukov had 'cultivated a relationship of dependence' in which Rybakina believed she could not be successful without Vukov. In arbitration, documents and evidence used to adjudicate a case do not become public. Rybakina has not only since reconciled with Vukov, asking tour officials to allow him to coach her again throughout the investigation, but they have also begun a romantic relationship. The Professional Tennis Players Association, the sport's independent players' organization, had been supporting Rybakina's efforts to have Vukov reinstated as her coach, but pulled back after learning of details of the WTA investigation into him. Advertisement During Vukov's provisional suspension, Rybakina hired Goran Ivanisevic to coach her, but before the start of the Australian Open, Rybakina announced on social media that Vukov would rejoin her team. Shortly after that announcement, two people briefed on the WTA's investigation into Vukov, who had attended some of Rybakina's recent events before the Australian Open, described Ivanisevic as blindsided by Rybakina's public announcement of Vukov's return. They said that he was seriously considering his position as her coach. Ivanisevic resigned after Rybakina exited the tournament in a three-set defeat to eventual champion Madison Keys. She has since worked with Davide Sanguinetti, who said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport in February that 'Vukov and Elena are close, he will always be there.' 'Stefano and I are on the same wavelength,' Sanguinetti said. Since the conclusion of the investigation, Rybakina has begun to find some of the form that took her to the very top of women's tennis. She won her first title in more than a year in Strasbourg, France, the day before the start of the French Open. She reached the fourth round in Paris, before losing to defending champion Iga Świątek in a three-set thriller. In Paris, Rybakina said in a news conference that she and Vukov 'practice together between the tournaments, not when the tournament is on.' This does not contravene the terms of his suspension by the WTA, as it only has jurisdiction during events. Vukov has also suggested to associates that he intends to represent Rybakina commercially, according to two sources who have been in contact with him.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Elena Rybakina thrashes Ostapenko to set up intriguing tussle with Iga Swiatek
Jelena Ostapenko has long been one of the most devastating shot-makers of her generation and every time she steps on to a court, she is there to decide her own destiny in victory or defeat. On Friday afternoon, however, Ostapenko experienced the rare sensation of not being in control as Elena Rybakina put on a devastating exhibition of her effortless, destructive ball-striking to reach the fourth round of the French Open with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of the former champion. The most notable consequence of Rybakina's victory, of course, is that she will renew her rivalry with the four-time champion Iga Swiatek in what will be the most highly anticipated match in either singles draw. In the earlier match on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Swiatek closed out her 24th consecutive victory at the French Open by defeating Jaqueline Cristian 6-2, 7-5. A week after winning her first title in more than a year in Strasbourg, this victory marks another positive step forward for Rybakina. Much of her past 12 months have been extremely difficult, with the Kazakh falling from her career high ranking of No 3 to her current spot at No 11. Not long ago, Rybakina had positioned herself as the top contender to Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. In recent months, she has been her own biggest rival. Although Rybakina has been frequently sidelined with various illnesses over the past year, her issues have also been personal. In February, her previous longtime coach, Stefano Vukov, was suspended by the WTA tour for a year after the organisation concluded that Vukov had been verbally abusive to Rybakina, breaching the its code of conduct. Despite Rybakina objecting to the suspension, Vukov is banned from attaining accreditation at official WTA events and grand slam tournaments. On Wednesday, Rybakina noted that she continues to work with Vukov on court between tournaments. 'We usually practise together between the tournaments, not when the tournament is on,' she said. It has been eight years since Ostapenko shocked the tennis world by spectacularly winning the 2017 French Open, while Rybakina won her first grand slam title at Wimbledon in 2021. A battle between two major champions is always a significant event, but the prospect of a meeting with Swiatek, and their respective records against the four-time French Open champion, only added a level of significance to the tie. At this point, the match-up between Ostapenko and Swiatek is the most notorious non-rivalry on the tour. After defeating Swiatek en route to winning the Stuttgart Open title last month, Ostapenko is now 6-0 versus the Pole, having defeated her on every surface. Ostapenko is a supreme ball-striker and, when she finds her rhythm, she times the ball more sweetly than almost any other player. Even so, a player as distinguished as Swiatek having such a difficult match-up against a lesser opponent is shocking. Although Swiatek avoided her greatest nemesis, facing Rybakina is hardly a positive outcome. Their head-to-head record is tied at 4-4 and Rybakina's game matches up well against the Pole, with her powerful first serve neutralising Swiatek's return and she takes time away with her clean, flat ball-striking. As Swiatek attempts to rebuild her confidence on her favourite court after a difficult few months, this will be an enormous test in her push for a fourth consecutive French Open title. Elsewhere, the top seed Aryna Sabalenka eased into the second week with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win over Olga Danilovic of Serbia. Afterwards, Sabalenka said that she is happy for Swiatek to carry the title of favourite, and the pressure that comes with it, in this tournament. 'It's tough to predict in women's tennis,' she said. 'Let's just leave it on Iga since she won it, what, three times in a row, really, right? I will just leave it for her.' Elsewhere, Amelie Mauresmo, the French Open tournament director, defended the decision not to schedule women's matches during the night sessions. 'For me, the message that I always said, and I will repeat, the conditions did not change from having one unique match in the evening,' said Mauresmo. 'For me, the message is not changing, and it has never been that the girls are not worthy to play at night. It's never been this. I will not accept that you carry this message. That's really clear to me.'
New York Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Elena Rybakina wins first title in over 12 months, thanks banned coach Stefano Vukov
By her standards, it's been a while since Elena Rybakina has been a serious threat to win a tournament. The last time she made a final was 13 months ago in Stuttgart, Germany, which was also the last time she won a tournament. Rybakina ended that drought in Strasbourg, France on the eve of the French Open, defeating Ludmila Samsonova, a longtime nemesis, 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-1. Advertisement Fittingly, the big-serving Rybakina finished Samsonova with an ace on a second serve. She went into the final with a 1-4 record against the Russian and earns 500 ranking points from her triumph, sending the former world No. 3 back up to No. 11. The win should give the native Russian-turned-Kazakh a healthy boost of confidence heading into the French Open. She didn't beat a player ranked higher than 19th on the way to the title, but she's been losing to players ranked far lower than that this season. 'Davide, you're here alone, but I have a good and big team,' she said at the trophy ceremony, referring to her current coach Davide Sanguinetti. 'Thank you to my fitness coach, physio, Stefano and of course thank you to my family and all the sponsors for your support,' Rybakina said. Stefano is Stefano Vukov, Rybakina's coach of the past six years, who is serving a one-year suspension from the WTA Tour for violating its code of conduct. The WTA suspended him in February, after conducting an investigation into reports that he had been verbally abusive to Rybakina and had pursued her at her New York hotel after she sacked him before the U.S. Open last year. In a letter sent to Vukov at the conclusion of the investigation, WTA Tour chief executive Portia Archer wrote that Vukov's violations of the code of conduct included: 'Engaging in abuse of authority and abusive conduct towards the WTA Player, including compromising or attempting to compromise the psychological, physical or emotional well-being of the Player.' Vukov has denied any wrongdoing, and Rybakina has repeatedly maintained that he 'never mistreated' her. Within weeks of her firing Vukov, Rybakina had decided she wanted him back on her team. But by then the WTA had opened its investigation into his behavior, provisionally suspending him pending the outcome. Last November, she hired Goran Ivanisevic, Novak Djokovic's former coach, but Vukov continued to coach her behind the scenes without Ivanisevic knowing. Advertisement Vukov, who was in Melbourne during the Australian Open, was barred from accessing Melbourne Park on a credential and unable to enter practice courts or Rybakina's box. After Rybakina exited the tournament, Ivanisevic resigned as her coach. Rybakina will face Julia Riera of Argentina in the first round of the French Open. Riera replaced Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, who pulled out with an injury, in the main draw.
The National
17-02-2025
- Sport
- The National
Dubai Tennis Championships: Iga Swiatek says WTA's decision to ban Elena Rybakina coach should be respected
Sport Independent investigation into Stefano Vukov's potential breach of the Code of Conduct has concluded and that his suspension remains in place
Washington Post
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Rybakina 'disappointed' about coach Vukov's suspension after WTA investigation
DOHA, Qatar — Elena Rybakina said on Wednesday she was 'disappointed' with the WTA Tour's decision to ban for her former coach Stefano Vukov following the governing body's investigation into a potential breach of its code of conduct. 'I'm just disappointed with the situation, and how the process went. I'm not going to comment much on that anymore,' Rybakina told reporters after her victory over Rebecca Sramkova at the Qatar Open.
