Tennis Forum banner

Vukov and Rybakina drama (UPDATE: SUSPENSION LIFTED)

189K views 1.8K replies 272 participants last post by  Andy McCoy  
#1 · (Edited)

Elena wants to bring Vukov back BUT WTA have suspended him under the code of conduct....

On the eve of the Australian Open, a major conflict is intensifying at the top of women’s tennis.

Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, wants to bring former coach Stefano Vukov back onto her team, but Vukov has been provisionally suspended by the WTA Tour while under a confidential and private investigation for a breach of the tour’s Code of Conduct.

Image


Article continues in link.



New York Times publishing this.

Story gets even murkier now :tape:

Elena wanted him back despite wta tour telling her she can't have him..... confrontations looming between her and the tour

UPDATE:

Banned from tour for a year, investigation found he was mentally abusing Elena, looks like they are in a romantic relationship.


 
#2 ·
so the rumours around USO were true - about him being suspended.

obviously the investigation needs to be carried out, but you would have to seriously question what is going though Elena’s head being desperate to bring him back when she has a new super-coach…. would really make you concerned it is some sort of grooming or “cult-like” as Pam said.

Goran must be wondering wtf he’s signed up for.
 
#134 ·
If they had evidence in August and basically silently suspended him which caused the split with Rybakina what are they still investigating in January? Vukov was very much a one-player coach at WTA level so it's not like they would be gathering information from anyone not named Rybakina?
 
  • Like
Reactions: SixOhSixOh
This post has been deleted
#13 ·
Or maybe he could be a good influence to help make things right. In which case, time might be needed. If the allegations are true, or similar, it will take time for her to come to realisations. Not just a few weeks or months.
 
#16 ·
Elena didn't report him someone else (or more than 1 person) did :dunno:
 
#25 ·
How could have wta banned vukov if elena hadn't filed a request!!!
Someone else reported him :dunno: another player or coach we don't know but could be more than 1 as well and we don't know what proof there is but it must be significant to warrant this
 
#23 ·
Elena didn't report him someone else (or more than 1 person) did :dunno:
Perhaps he was a side toward another player. Does anyone remember his super agressive hateful comments towards Iga just weeks before he was sacked? Imagine what he’s like behind the scenes. If he’s lashed out to other players and their teams I’m sure this suspension is much more than hearsay
BUT
1. Elena does not support him being banned so I don't see how the WTA can ban him on her account.
2. No one has mentioned him being abusive to another player, surely Prosecutor Pam would have mentioned that, if it were part of the case against him.
 
#29 ·
If he was abusive to another player or coach and they reported it to WTA we would not know unless they chose to revoke anonymity
 
#30 ·
Me trying to process whatever the hell is going on :

Image



Seriously though I don't like this at all... If she freaking boycott tournaments for this dude... I'd rather not think about it. This whole thing clearly hints at bad omens from everywhere but yet remains so vague.
 
#32 ·
why not? Why wouldn’t abuse go Elena (of any form) reported by another player or coacj be investigated? There may well be evidence (video, text messages etc.), and if reports were backed up by others on tour, I think it should count as more than “hearsay”.
Someone else reported him :dunno: another player or coach we don't know but could be more than 1 as well and we don't know what proof there is but it must be significant to warrant this
Nonsense. The police never prosecute someone accused of domestic violence unless the alleged victim presses charges. The WTA/ITF does not have a leg to stand on, if it does this without the alleged victim's consent. Supposed witnesses will not be enough.
 
#40 ·
this isn’t a criminal proceeding (and not all jurisdictions are the same anyways). If I was making misogynistic comments to someone in work and someone overheard and reported me, it wouldn’t matter that it wasn’t the victim who came forward. If Vukov is found to have breaches a case of conduct or rules, it won’t really matter who lodged an accusation.
 
#169 ·
If you look at the bigger lawsuit picture... USTA was sued by a player for allowing coach abuse, a jury awarded $9 million this year to the player. The US figure skating is also in the background (note for those with potential reading comprehension issues: I am referring to the lawsuits not type of abuse).

WTA hired a lawyer as Director of Safeguarding in 2022 or 2023. USTA is reviewing or has reviewed policies. What happened (or, more precisely, didn't happen) in the 2000s and the 2010s is history. This is the new reality, and WTA currently has plenty of incentives to take action as well as the organization to do so.
 
#47 ·
I feel bad for Ivanisevic, the NY Times piece says his relationship has become strained after she announced Vukov back.
Can you link that piece here?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jimbos Soul Food
#151 ·
The pick mes in this thread and in the other thread had the nerve to claim everyone was overreacting and berated Pam Shriver despite her having inside information. I'm convinced a lot of posters here just love to see women abused and manipulated because the responses are still ridiculous. If the WTA had to intervene and do an investigation this coach is a problem.