Elena Rybakina Abuse Allegations Resurface Amid Australian Open Final Spotlight

Kazakhstan’s tennis star Elena Rybakina has been dominating headlines after securing a place in the Australian Open final against Aryna Sabalenka. The world No. 3 defeated American Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals, continuing her impressive rise in women’s tennis. Rybakina remains a trailblazer for Kazakhstan as the country’s first Grand Slam champion and the first to break into the WTA top 10. However, alongside her on-court success, renewed attention has turned toward controversies surrounding her personal and professional life.

Rybakina has long preferred to keep her private affairs away from public scrutiny, but in 2024 reports emerged alleging a romantic relationship between her and her then-coach, Stefano Vukov. Despite a significant age gap, rumors of a secret affair quickly became a major topic within the tennis community.

In early 2025, the situation escalated when The Athletic reported that Vukov had subjected Rybakina to mental abuse during their professional relationship. According to the report, the coach allegedly made demeaning remarks, including calling her “stupid” and telling her she would still be “in Russia picking potatoes” without him. These allegations suggested that the pressure and treatment contributed to recurring health issues, forcing Rybakina to miss several tournaments due to unexplained illnesses.

Rybakina and Vukov, who had worked together since 2019, parted ways shortly before the 2024 US Open. Following their separation, reports claimed Vukov continued to harass the player, leading to withdrawals from major events, including the Paris Olympics and multiple WTA tournaments. It was alleged that stress, depression, and intimidation played a role behind her absences, despite official statements citing physical problems.

In February 2025, the WTA suspended Vukov for one year after complaints from individuals close to Rybakina. The governing body concluded that he had created a “toxic relationship” and abused his authority. A confidential investigation detailed violations, including abusive conduct and exploitation of his position.

Despite the findings, Rybakina publicly defended Vukov throughout the process, insisting he “never mistreated” her and expressing dissatisfaction with the WTA’s actions. After the suspension was lifted in August 2025, she reinstated Vukov to her team, stating: “I never had any issues with him, so for me it’s just nice to see him in the box. We obviously have good communication and we never had an issue.”