Elena Rybakina parts ways with her second coach after Vukov's return

Thursday, 04 September 2025 at 14:58

byErik Virostko

Elena Rybakina stopped working with her second coach, Davide Sanguinetti, after reappointing Stefano Vukov.

Rybakina's coaching team has undergone quite a few changes in recent months. She parted ways with Stefano Vukov at the end of the 2024 season, and a few months after their split, the Croatian coach was suspended by the WTA.

In the meantime, the Kazakhstani player showed intent to start working with Vukov again, but she couldn't because of his suspension. She tried working with Goran Ivanisevic, but that partnership ended very quickly.

Rybakina also hired Davide Sanguinetti, who, according to the reports, should have been just Vukov's extended arm during his suspension. Since Vukov had his ban lifted, he returned to the Wimbledon champion's team, and according to a report from Italian publication Spazio Tennis, Rybakina stopped working with Sanguinetti as a result.

The decision was made after the 2025 US Open, where Rybakina lost in the fourth round to fellow Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova. The Czech player beat her in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Rybakina reacts to Vukov returning to her box

While in New York, Rybakina was also asked about her coach Vukov. The question she faced was tied to her previous health problems and whether Vukov's return helped her to avoid having those issues.

"I had big issues with insomnia. 2023 was pretty tough for me. I played a lot, had a different schedule, and many night sessions. We didn’t yet have the rule that you cannot go on court after 11, so I played many late matches."

"With the Billie Jean King Cup, the season was long, and going into 2024, I started again pretty well, but played so many tournaments till the end. My insomnia was there almost the whole year, and I struggled, but now it’s much better; I have no issues, which I’m very happy about."

"This year I tried a new coach, it didn’t work out at the beginning, results weren’t the same as previous years, but now I think we’re managing and getting closer to where I want to be. Physically, I’m doing a good job, even though there’s not much time between tournaments."

"I’m happy with the work now. Having Stefano in the box definitely helps a lot. It’s important when the whole team supports you. I never had any issues with him. For me, it’s just nice to see him in the box. We always had good communication, and we never had issues."

What's next for Rybakina after US Open loss?

Rybakina might have lost earlier than she expected at the US Open. She was arguably one of the three best players during the North American hard-court swing, and as such, also one of the favorites to win in New York.

Her journey ended earlier than expected, which will, on the other hand, give Rybakina time to recover for the upcoming Asian swing. Her first tournament should be the China Open in Beijing, starting on September 24th.