Chris Evert sends a message to Elena Rybakina after shocking claims about Kazakh & ex-coach Stefano Vukov's relationship come to light
Tennis legend Chris Evert has sent Elena Rybakina a message of support following the emergency of some shocking claims about the Kazakh’s relationship with her former coach, Stefano Vukov. The claims surfaced shortly after the former Wimbledon champion announced her withdrawal from the 2024 China Open.
Rybakina parted ways with Vukov just days before the US Open this year, ending a successful five-year partnership. The veteran coach had, however, frequently come under fire from fans and notable tennis figures for his unconventional and often controversial coaching style.
Reports then surfaced that Stefano Vukov had been removed from the WTA coaches list and banned from the tour, adding more fuel to the speculation about his sudden split from his former protege.
An intriguing twist in the controversy was recently brought to light by tennis journalist Sonya Tartakova. In an interview on the YouTube channel 'Tennis Bolshei,' she explored Elena Rybakina's frequent withdrawals from tournaments and injury problems, suggesting that Stefano Vukov's poor attitude towards her may have contributed to her struggles.
"All these difficulties that she faces, she faces because of a lot of very heavy pressure associated with her former coach Vukov. I don't want to say big words, not quite the correct attitude of her mentor towards her. That is, he "ate" her all the time, as people who surrounded Lena say," Tartakova said.
Chris Evert has now taken to X (formerly Twitter) to react to the claims, offering her best wishes to the 25-year-old and hoping for her "healthy" and "happy" comeback to the sport.
"Wishing Elena the best and hoping she comes back healthy and happy," the 18-time Grand Slam champion wrote.
Elena Rybakina hopes to return to Tour before WTA Finals
Elena Rybakina withdrew from the 2024 China Open just days before the tournament, citing an ongoing back injury. She added that after careful consideration, she and her medical team decided to "prioritize" her health, which is why she will not participate in any upcoming tournaments during the Asian swing.
"Due to an ongoing back injury, I regretfully have to withdraw from the upcoming Asian tournaments," Rybakina said in a statement (via WTA). "While I’ve been working hard on my recovery, my medical team and I have decided it's best to prioritize my health at this time."
Rybakina also mentioned that she would work hard to return to the court before the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, starting on November 2. She has already qualified for the year-ending tournament, alongside Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
"This has been a challenging year and I am grateful for the support from the tournament organizers and all of my fans. My team and I will work on getting me back on the court before the season finale," the Kazakh said.
After parting ways with Stefano Vukov, the World No. 4 has been working with Yuri Schukin, who also serves as the head coach of the Kazakhstan Davis Cup team.
Schukin was by her side during the US Open, from which she withdrew before her second-round match. It will be interesting to see how this partnership develops in upcoming events.