Tennis star Rybakina says ex-coach ‘never mistreated me’

The 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina said Saturday her former coach Stefano Vukov “never mistreated me” after reports that he has been provisionally suspended by the WTA.

The world number six wants to bring Vukov back into her team but The Athletic this week said he is under investigation for a potential breach of the women’s tour code of conduct.

“The WTA launched the investigation last year after complaints were made about his conduct, described as intense and at times harsh by others within the sport,” The Athletic said.

Vukov, who helped Rybakina win Wimbledon, denies wrongdoing, telling the publication: “Definitely never abused anyone.”

The controversy comes ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, starting on January 12.

Rybakina leapt to the defence of the Croat on Saturday.

“I can only say, and I said it already before, that he never mistreated me or it was never anything like that,” she said following Kazakhstan’s defeat to Poland in the semi-finals of the United Cup in Sydney.

“Stefano is rejoining the team because I know the person for six years.”

The 25-year-old Rybakina, who was born in Moscow but plays for Kazakhstan, added: “Of course I’m not really happy with the situation.”

She added: “But the only thing I can say is, he never mistreated me. I have respect to him for everything he did from the very beginning.”

Rybakina lost 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to Poland’s world number two Iga Swiatek at the United Cup.