Elena Rybakina has reportedly found a replacement for Stefano Vukov at least for the remainder of the year as Kazakhstan Tennis Federation Vice President Dias Doskarayev reveals the world No. 5 is expected to work with LovroZovko in the upcoming period.
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Since shockingly parting ways with her long-time Croatian coach Vukov just three days before the US Open, the 2022 Wimbledon champion has appeared in just one match and has picked up three consecutive tournament withdrawals. While the 25-year-old may be out of action, she has still been in the headlines very much lately as there have been a lot of speculations and some stunning claims regarding her recent split with the coach who worked with her for five years.
However, the latest report indicates that we haven't seen the last of Rybakina in 2024. And a bit interestingly, she will work with another Croatian, Zovko. During his career, the 43-year-old - who currently has a role within the Kazakh Tennis Federation - didn't enjoy much success as mainly played at the Challenger and ITF levels and never broke into the top-150. In doubles, Zovko had more success as he lost five doubles finals and was also ranked as high as No. 45 in the world.
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"Everything is in progress now. The search is underway. Most likely, the second coach Lovro Zovko will temporarily replace him. He is a priority choice for Elena Rybakina's team. We are talking to her now. Other coaches are also being considered. As we know, there was a long-term cooperation with Stefano Vukov, more than 5 years. Stefano Vukov brought her from 200th position to the TOP-5. Therefore, it is a difficult question. The process is underway. Most likely, Lovre Zorko will stay until the end of the year. Because Elena knows him. The captain of the national team, Yuri Shchukin, also helps him," Doskarayev said on the air of the 24 KZ TV channel.
Some nasty details from the Rybakina-Vukov collaboration have surfaced
For years, the 37-year-old Croatian's personality and attitude toward the Kazakh tennis star were questioned. But on multiple occasions, the two-time Grand Slam finalist herself would defend her coach from such accusations.
However, after they came together to the US Open and Rybakina decided to end their partnership - played just one match before abruptly pulling out of the tournament - and then rumors came out that Vukov was removed from the official WTA coaches list, several red flags were instantly raised.
And just recently, Russian tennis journalist Sofya Tartakova claimed that those close to the Kazakh revealed to her that the 25-year-old's constant health issues were in part caused by the enormous stress of working with the Croatian.
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"She is now under a lot of stress and it is all psychosomatic. She is now in a completely disorganized state, she cannot play," Tartakova said during a conversation for YouTube channel Tennis Bolshei.
The tennis insider also dropped an absolute bombshell by saying that Rybakina dealt with constant "pressure, insults, and bad words."
"Elena Rybakina's parents stood up for her, because she could not break this vicious circle. On the one hand, this is the coach who worked with her since she was 17, and she herself, together with her family, chose him. On the other hand, it is clear that they were very close, she won the main achievements of her career thanks to their joint work, and her parents insisted that Lena change something in her tennis life, because there was pressure, and insults, and bad words said to her. They were constantly from Vukov's lips," Tartakova explained.
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Rennae Stubbs: People saw Vukov wasn't treating Rybakina properly
Stubbs, a former five-time Grand Slam champion in doubles, made some comments that suggest that there is absolutely at least some true in Tartakova's claims. On her podcast, the Australian former doubles world No. 1 said that she personally saw the Croatian not treating the Kazakh the way he should have and also claimed that some pro players witnessed the same.
"Now, off the court, in a way he might be the greatest guy in the world to her, I dont know. But when it comes to being her coach, I saw way too many things of him yelling at her in the gym, other players have said stuff to me. When she would win matches, he was giving her s---. This is what other people saw. There's 25 other people that could see the same thing I was seeing," she said on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
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It remains to be seen when Rybakina will exactly return to action and how her collaboration with Zovko will go.
