"Still pissed at him";"Already feel the negativity" - Fans amused by Elena Rybakina training with coach Stefano Vukov at Wimbledon
Elena Rybakina was recently spotted training with her coach Stefano Vukov ahead of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. The glimpse of their training session left the fans amused and some of them recalled instances of conflicts between the two from the past.
Rybakina and Stefano Vukov were involved in multiple arguments previously. Notable instances include this year's French Open, where the 25-year-old slammed Vukov for speaking in Italian during her quarterfinal clash against Jasmine Paolini. Vukov also faced backlash for constantly instructing the Kazakh during her third-round clash against Sorana Cirstea at the US Open last year.
Ahead of the grasscourt Major, the Kazakh engaged in a training session with her coach in London, a glimpse of which was shared by a fan on X ( formerly Twitter). One image in the post depicted Stefano Vukov instructing Rybakina, prompting fans to speculate if friction still persisted between the two.
A fan recalled the incident from Rybakina's quarterfinal clash at the 2024 French Open and wrote:
"she looks like she's still pissed at him for speaking Italian..."
"I can’t already feel the negativity oozing from that first frame, free Rybakina!!!!" Another fan commented.
"And hasn't stopped chuntering in between, even in his sleep." A fan chimed in.
Looking at the image, a fan thought that Kazhak wasn't listening to her coach's instructions.
"Her as* isn't listening to him," they wrote.
Here are a few more reactions:
"The first picture xD she’s always so over Vukov." A fan said.
"i'm looking forward to the wimbledon kit." Another wrote.
Elena Rybakina indulged in a heated argument with her coach at the 2024 Australian Open
Elena Rybakina also had a heated exchange with her coach following her first-round victory over Karolina Pliskova at the 2024 Australian Open. The Kazhak engaged in an argument with Vukov in the player's gym which frustrated the Croatian, prompting him to leave.
Subsequently, the fans on X didn't take the incident well and raised questions about Stefano Vukov's aggressive behavior. One of the fans even asked Vukov to be "normal" while discussing with Rybakina.
Moreover, there have been other instances when the Croatian landed in hot water due to his fierce demeanor, especially during the 2023 Australian Open semifinal, when he was spotted yelling at Rybakina.
Elena Rybakina will next appear at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships and will look to win the second Major of her career.