By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 11, 2025
Elena Rybakina took questions from the press right this moment and, naturally, most of them have been about her teaching scenario. The World No.6, who shook up the tennis world by saying she can be bringing former coach Stefano Vukov again into her staff although she employed Goran Ivanisevic to be her coach late final yr, supplied some readability concerning the fluid scenario, however not a lot.
Rybakina, who will face Emerson Jones in her opening match in Melbourne, admitted that the present scenario is way from ultimate. Vukov is presently below provisional suspension from the tour, and has not been granged a credential on the Australian Open.
Learn Extra: Rybakina in Limbo, as Vukov Faces Suspension from the WTA Tour
“Nicely undoubtedly not the perfect scenario,” she mentioned. “As I mentioned, I’m not proud of the entire scenario. Particularly when nonetheless some coaches are making some feedback, and the people who find themselves not so near the tennis world simply see the feedback and so they decide it up and make much more of a present out of this.
“I don’t assume it’s honest. My purpose right here is to deal with the matches. That is what I’m gonna do.”
Rybakina clarified her present scenario, saying that Ivanisevic can be along with her in Melbourne, and hinted that rumors that Ivanisevic was blindsided by the information that Vukov can be rejoining the staff weren’t true.
“We’re right here, we’re working, sure it’s him,” she mentioned, including: “As I mentioned already I’m not going to discuss it extra, for the reason that scenario just isn’t clear from the WTA Tour.”
Rybakina labeled feedback made by Pam Shriver concerning the nature of her relationship with Vukov as unfair and mentioned she had by no means spoken to the American.
It’s a subject that’s close to and expensive to the legend’s coronary heart. In 2023 Shriver opened up for the primary time about an inappropriate relationship she had along with her former coach when she was simply 17.
“I don’t know her personally,” Rybakina mentioned of Shriver. “She by no means got here to me. She by no means talked with me. I do know her story. It’s unhappy, nevertheless it doesn’t imply different gamers are going through the identical points. She doesn’t know me. I don’t know her. I don’t assume it’s honest to make any feedback like that. Particularly being an lively coach, commentator, journalist and so forth.”
