Elena Rybakina wasted no time in making a statement at the Australian Open, crushing Australian wild card Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-1 to secure her place in the second round. However, the attention on the No. 6 seed from Kazakhstan wasn’t just due to her dominant performance: controversy surrounding her coach, Stefano Vukov, loomed large over the match.
Rybakina shines on court despite distractions
The reigning Wimbledon champion and 2023 Australian Open finalist showed no signs of distraction, delivering a near-perfect performance against 16-year-old Jones. With 11 aces and 26 winners, Rybakina controlled the match from start to finish.
“Very happy with my performance, the way I served today. I can’t wait to play the next match,” Rybakina said after her victory.
She will now face another rising talent, world number 191 Iva Jovic, in the second round.
Training controversy clouds Happy Slam
Although Rybakina’s game has been sharpened, the absence of Stefano Vukov from his team has attracted significant attention. The 37-year-old coach is currently under investigation by the WTA for allegations of misconduct, which prevents him from coaching on tour until the investigation is concluded. Despite Vukov being reinstated to his team ahead of the tournament, Rybakina had to navigate his first match without him, with Goran Ivanisevic taking over.
Rybakina staunchly defended her coach amid the growing attention. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the tournament, she criticized the WTA’s handling of the situation and denied any allegations of mistreatment by Vukov.
“I never complained or said any of those things [sur les mauvais traitements],” she said. “I always said he never mistreated me.”
A fractured relationship with the WTA?
The Kazakh star did not hold back her words to express her frustration with the WTA’s involvement in her personal relationship with her coach. She criticized the governing body and media for their assumptions regarding her dynamic with Vukov, calling the attention “disloyal.”
Rybakina hoped to get the nod from Vukov before the start of the Australian Open, but as her first match unfolded, the investigation remained unresolved. “Certainly, I don’t agree with a lot of things that the WTA has done regarding my relationship with Stefano,” Rybakina said.
Looking to the future
As Rybakina progresses in Melbourne, she will need to keep her attention sharp despite distractions off the court. With a powerful start to the tournament, she clearly showed that her game speaks louder than the controversies surrounding her.
The Kazakh’s next challenge against Iva Jovic offers an opportunity to further strengthen her position as one of the leading title contenders, even if questions over her coaching situation persist.
