Elena Rybakina’s Controversial Coach Returns To Steal the Show At Australian Open
It should have been a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. Elena Rybakina, the calm and collected star from Kazakhstan, had just battled through three grueling sets to defeat the defending champion and world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka. The score line—6-4, 4-6, 6-4—reflected just how tight the contest was. It was a historic victory, marking her second Grand Slam title since her Wimbledon breakthrough in 2022.
But as the confetti fell and the cameras panned to her player box, the narrative shifted. Standing there, beaming and eventually accepting a coach’s trophy of his own, was Stefano Vukov.
For the casual viewer, it might have looked like a standard celebration. But for anyone who has followed Rybakina and the tennis world over the last two years, seeing Vukov on that podium was, to put it mildly, complicated. Just a year ago, he was serving a suspension. Now, he’s being honored alongside one of the best players in the world. It’s a comeback story, sure, but it has left a lot of fans and commentators scratching their heads.
How Rybakina Took Down the World No. 1
Before we dive into the drama, we have to give credit where it’s due. The tennis played on Rod Laver Arena was nothing short of spectacular. Rybakina came into the final as the underdog against Sabalenka, who has been a dominant force on hard courts.
The match was a slugfest. After taking the first set, it looked like Rybakina might falter when Sabalenka roared back to take the second. The third set was a test of nerves, but it was the Kazakh star who held her ground, breaking serve at crucial moments to seal the win. This victory pushes her back up to World No. 3 and proves that her game is resilient enough to handle the biggest stages, even when her preparation has been chaotic.
Why Was Stefano Vukov Suspended?
To understand why the trophy presentation felt so awkward, you have to rewind to 2025. That was the year the partnership between Rybakina and Vukov hit rock bottom.
The WTA handed Vukov a suspension for breaching the Code of Conduct. The allegations were serious, centering on verbal abuse and behavior that was deemed overly harsh and improper. For years, fans had noted his intense, sometimes aggressive coaching style from the sidelines. It was often uncomfortable to watch, but in 2025, the governing body finally stepped in.
Rybakina and Vukov actually split briefly in 2024 before the US Open, a move that many thought was permanent. But by the time the suspension rolled around, Rybakina surprised many by defending him. She described the ordeal as “unpleasant” but stuck by her man, framing it as a lesson in trust. When his appeal was successful and the suspension lifted late in 2025, he was back in her box almost immediately.
The Controversy Of the Coach’s Trophy
The Australian Open recently introduced a new tradition: honoring the winning coach with a trophy during the ceremony. In theory, it’s a nice gesture to acknowledge the team behind the player. In practice, handing a trophy to a man who was suspended for misconduct just months prior creates a bizarre visual.
It forces the conversation away from Rybakina’s incredible forehand and toward the politics of the WTA. Does handing Vukov a trophy legitimize behavior that the tour tried to stamp out last year? It sends a mixed message. On one hand, he served his time (or won his appeal), and he helped his player win a Slam. On the other hand, it highlights a lack of consistency in how tennis handles safeguarding and coaching ethics.
FAQ
Q: What happened in the Australian Open final?
A: Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to win her second Grand Slam.
Q: Who is Stefano Vukov?
A: Rybakina’s coach since 2019. He was suspended in 2025 but reinstated after an appeal.
Q: Why is this news important?
A: It highlights both Rybakina’s triumph and the controversy over coach conduct in tennis.
Q: What are the next steps?
A: Rybakina will continue her season, aiming for more titles, while the WTA faces scrutiny over its disciplinary processes.
What This Means For Rybakina’s Future
Ultimately, Rybakina is the one who has to navigate this storm. She has made it clear she wants to move forward. She values loyalty, and it’s obvious that despite the outside noise, she believes Vukov is the right coach to guide her career.
However, this win ensures the spotlight won’t dim anytime soon. The tennis world is currently divided. One camp admires her resilience and ability to win despite the chaos in her camp. The other camp worries about the example being set regarding player welfare.
As Rybakina celebrates her return to the top tier of women’s tennis, the questions about her team aren’t going away. For now, she has the trophy, the ranking, and the history. But the uneasy reality of her coach’s reinstatement is likely to be a talking point for the rest of the 2026 season.
