Elena Rybakina disappointed as former coach Vukov's ban upheld

Elena Rybakina expressed disappointment over the WTA's decision to uphold the one-year ban against her former coach, Stefano Vukov, following an investigation into his conduct. Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022 under Vukov's guidance, emphasized her focus on her matches amid the turmoil and stated she would not comment further on the situation. Vukov was provisionally suspended in January after allegations of breaching the WTA's Code of Conduct, which he denies, claiming he never abused anyone. The WTA confirmed that the investigation concluded with Vukov's suspension remaining intact, but did not disclose specific details about the allegations or the suspension's length. Rybakina had previously indicated plans to rehire Vukov but his current status makes that impossible. She briefly worked with Goran Ivanisevic, but their collaboration ended after an early exit at the Australian Open.