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Writer's pictureChristian Montegan

‘SHE DOESN’T KNOW ME’: FROSTY RYBAKINA TAKES SWIPE AT FORMER NO.1



A visibly annoyed Elena Rybakina was again forced to answer questions about her relationship with former coach Stefano Vukov, taking a swipe at the WTA and a former world No.1.


In August, Rybakina split with Vukov after an inconsistent first eight months of 2024 amid allegations of mistreatment by her then-coach.


That prompted her to hire Novak Djokovic’s former coach, Goran Ivanišević, for the 2025 campaign in November, only Rybakina to announce the return of Vukov, not as coach, but part of her coaching team.


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However, Rybakina has defended Vukov despite the latter serving a provisional suspension from the tour after the WTA confirmed it had opened an investigation into Vukov breaching a Code of Conduct.


"Well, first of all, like with the whole situation, I don't want to speak much about what's going to be next. But definitely, as I said before, I don't agree with a lot of things [that] WTA [does] in the sense of my relationship with Stefano," Rybakina said in her pre-tournament press conference at Melbourne Park.


"As I said before, I have never made any complaints or any of these things. I always said that he never mistreated me. That's one thing. Since this situation how it is now, I don't really want to speak about this.


"I don’t agree with a lot of things [that] the WTA do in the sense of my relationship with Stefano.


Former doubles world No.1 Pam Shriver has been vocal about the situation, condemning Vukov's return to Rybakina's team as a "sad situation".


Shriver experienced mistreatment and abuse in her career when coached by Don Candy, but although Rybakina understands the suffering she endured, the world No.6 is asking for understanding.


"I get that one coach is Pam Shriver… I don’t know her personally. She never came to me. She never talked with me," Rybakina said.


"I know her story. It’s sad, but it doesn’t mean other players are facing the same issues. She doesn’t know me. I don’t know her. I don’t think it’s fair to make any comments like that, Especially being an active coach, commentator, journalist and so on."


Rybakina begins her quest for the Australian Open title when she takes on 16-year-old Australian Emerson Jones in the opening round on Tuesday.


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