Elena Rybakina’s run at the 2025 Australian Open came to an end in the round-of-16 after a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 defeat to Madison Keys. The Kazakh player, currently ranked world No. 7, expressed her frustration over not having her coach Stefano Vukov in her box during the tournament, while also casting doubt over the future of her partnership with Goran Ivanisevic.
Rybakina’s challenges at Melbourne Park were compounded by Vukov’s absence. The 37-year-old coach, who remains banned from coaching pending the conclusion of a WTA investigation into his conduct, was not permitted to access the locker room, practice courts, or sit in Rybakina’s box during matches.
“Definitely, I wanted him in the box,” Rybakina stated after her loss to Keys. “As I said before, this is not the position I want to be or someone wants to be in. Of course, I want to have who I want in the box, but I couldn’t change it. At the end of the day, I just tried to focus on my matches, and I spoke with him.”
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, sought to downplay the impact of Vukov’s absence on her performance, noting that she was able to lean on Ivanisevic during the tournament. “I also have Goran, so it didn’t affect the way I played today or any of the result,” she added.
However, Rybakina’s comments on her partnership with Ivanisevic suggested that the arrangement might not continue. Ivanisevic, best known for coaching Novak Djokovic to multiple Grand Slam titles, reportedly expressed surprise upon hearing about Rybakina’s intent to reunite with Vukov. Many believe that Ivanisevic’s role would end if Vukov returns.
“Well, we still need to talk,” Rybakina admitted when asked about her collaboration with Ivanisevic. “We just tried [working together] in the pre-season and these couple of tournaments. It was something just getting used to each other. We will definitely talk about how the next schedule is going to look like.”
Rybakina’s recent Australian Open performances have been underwhelming. After finishing as the runner-up in 2023, she exited in the second round in 2024 and managed only a round-of-16 finish this year. Despite these setbacks, the 25-year-old remains focused on improving and clarifying her coaching situation.
While Rybakina has shown resilience on the court, the uncertainty surrounding her coaching team underscores the challenges she faces as she seeks to return to her winning ways. With her talent and determination, however, Rybakina remains a formidable force in women’s tennis.
