Elena Rybakina: “No support” from WTA players after Stefano Vukov ban

DUBAI—Most players would be pleased after not only securing an uncomplicated victory at a WTA 1000 but also avoiding the onslaught of an unexpected desert rain. But these days, Elena Rybakina is not most players.

The No. 6 seed carried a palpable sadness to her post-match press conference at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, clearly on edge in the aftermath of the news that former (and ostensibly unofficial) coach Stefano Vukov will remain suspended by the Hologic WTA Tour for the foreseeable future.

This comes amid further reporting from The Athletic detailing of "a relationship of dependence" between Rybakina and Vukov.

“It's very disappointing the way it's been handled, just the outcome,” Rybakina reaffirmed on Tuesday after a 6-3, 6-2 win over Moyuka Uchijima.

Rybakina had planned to re-hire Vukov following their 2024 split back in January only for news to break that the coach was serving a provisional suspension for a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct. That suspension was affirmed to remain in place, reportedly for year.

No one offered any support. Honestly don't need. There is couple players I'm in touch more. But to say that I have very, very close friends on tour, it's I think not true just because we competing against each other. Everybody's surrounded by their teams. Elena Rybakina

Unhappy with the tour’s handling and implication of its Safeguarding Code, Rybakina has further felt isolated from her fellow players, several of whom spoke about the situation during the Dubai tournament’s Media Day.

“No one offered any support,” Rybakina said. “Honestly don't need. There is couple players I'm in touch more. But to say that I have very, very close friends on tour, it's I think not true just because we competing against each other. Everybody's surrounded by their teams.

“I have a couple of good friends, let's say,” she clarified. “But again, it's all depends on time, how much you can spend outside or not.”

Like many players, Dubai serves as a second home and training base for Rybakina, allowing for a modicum of creature comforts amid an uncomfortable present.

“It's just nice to be in the apartment, go to the places you usually go,” said the 2022 Wimbledon champion, who will next face No. 9 seed Paula Badosa. “For now I'm just doing my routines. Since the tournament is still going, I'm just focusing on my basic daily routines.

“Yeah, I love to go to the beach,” she added. “Spend some time shopping. But for this you need a bit more energy. So, it's all depends.”

Rybakina, who has cameoed on the YouTube channel of fellow player Daria Kasatkina, debuted her own channel last week, brightening somewhat at the prospect of connecting with others through a different social media platform.

“For now, it's still takes time to do these kind of things,” she said of the channel, which presently just features a Short video of Rybakina on a bicycle with her dog. “But in the future, hopefully, yes.”

For whatever Rybakina is carrying off the court, the 25-year-old not known for emotional demonstrative has largely appeared unburdened on the tennis court. Officially coached by former ATP pro Davide Sanguinetti, Rybakina reached the semifinals and quarterfinals in Abu Dhabi and Doha, respectively. A strong run in Dubai could return the world No. 7 back into the Top 5.

“I need to focus on my tournament,” Rybakina said flatly. “It's what I'm trying to do. Yeah, hopefully I can just keep on playing, keep on winning.”

But for all the talk of x’s and o’s, what feels more important is that Rybakina find a reprieve from the sadness that threatens to derail one of the tour’s most promising talents.