Elena Rybakina fired coach days before US Open over ‘vicious’ insult cycle…see more

Former Wimbledon champ Elena Rybakina fired her coach of five years, Stefano Vukov, just three days before the 2024 U.S. Open due to a “vicious” cycle of his verbal insults, Russian journalist Sofya Tartakova said during a recent appearance on the Tennis.

Rybakina, ranked No. 4 in the world, withdrew from the U.S. Open in August due to a back injury after she defeated Australia’s Destanee Aiava in the first round.

“They say that Stefano actually came to the U.S. Open, that he was in New York, was ready to continue working with her, but Lena decided that they would break up because of a very difficult … I don’t want to say big words, not quite the correct attitude of her mentor towards her.

“That is, he ‘ate’ her all the time, as people who surrounded Lena say. Rybakina’s parents stood up for her because she could not break this vicious circle.”