‘Yelling At Her In Gym’: Further Details Revealed About Rybakina’s Ex-Coach Vukov

Rennae Stubbs, former coach of Serena Williams, recently shared insights on issues that had concerned many tennis fans about Stefano Vukov, the former coach of Elena Rybakina. Rybakina, who began working with Vukov in February 2019, had a highly successful run under his guidance, becoming one of the top players in the world. However, despite their on-court success, concerns about Vukov’s behavior had surfaced over the years.

One of the primary issues revolved around Vukov’s conduct during matches, particularly his visible frustration and aggressive body language. This became especially noticeable during the Australian Open earlier this year, drawing public concern from several figures in the tennis world, including Rennae Stubbs. While Rybakina publicly defended her coach at the time, saying that they had a strong working relationship, recent developments have revealed a more complex situation.

In a surprising turn, Rybakina and Vukov parted ways without any prior indication of conflict. Their split came unexpectedly, leaving fans and analysts puzzled. What added more intrigue to the situation were reports that Vukov had been banned from coaching on the WTA Tour. Although no specific details about the ban have been confirmed, former players like Andy Roddick have pointed out that such a ban likely indicates serious issues. Rybakina herself has not played since the US Open, further fueling speculation about what might have happened behind the scenes.

Stubbs, one of Vukov’s most vocal critics after the Australian Open, recently discussed the situation on her podcast. She expressed her concerns not only about his behavior during matches but also about troubling reports of his conduct off the court. She explained that his intense demeanor on the sidelines didn’t provide the kind of positive energy she believed players needed during competition. Stubbs shared, “When I’m playing a match, I don’t want to see my coach gesturing, looking all pissed off up there. And there’s been some coaches of late that I’m like, ‘Why do these players allow these coaches to look like this?’ Because you need a positive influence around you when you’re looking up there.”

Stubbs went on to share that she had heard accounts of Vukov yelling at Rybakina during training sessions, which raised concerns about the overall health of their professional relationship. According to Stubbs, several other players had witnessed these interactions and commented on Vukov’s harsh treatment of Rybakina. “Other players have said stuff to me,” Stubbs noted. “When she would win matches, he was giving her s**t. This is what other people saw. There’s 25 other people that could see the same thing I was seeing.”

These new revelations suggest that while Rybakina and Vukov had achieved significant success together, their partnership may not have been the healthiest. Though their working relationship has now ended, many questions remain unanswered. Fans are hopeful that Rybakina will return to the court soon and regain her top form. Meanwhile, the details surrounding Vukov’s reported ban and the nature of his behavior continue to be a subject of discussion in the tennis world.