Rybakina Slams Disrespectful Talks About Her Coach
WTAFriday, 17 March 2023 at 05:40
Updated at Sunday, 17 August 2025 at 16:17
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Elena Rybakina once again showed support for her coach, Stefano Vukov, when she was once again asked about him.
Rybakina, and especially her coach Vukov, has faced plenty of criticism after her semi-final match at this year's Australian Open. Vukov made different gestures, shouted, and raised eyebrows while his player was fighting for a final spot in Melbourne.
Back then, the Kazakhstani player defended her coach, but their relationship came into the spotlight once again at the WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells.
Rybakina advanced to the 2023 Indian Wells semi-finals after beating Jelena Ostapenko, and when talking to Tennis Channel after the match, she once again addressed the situation surrounding her coach and his behavior.
"People don't really know us that well and like to comment or say something that they don't know. It's not their business at the end of the day. I think it was kind of disrespectful to him and to me."
Rybakina also felt prompted to comment on their relationship to show those making the comments that they were incorrect. Although she didn't have to, she wanted to defend her coach.
"I just had to do it so everybody knows that whatever they can see or think, they don't know us. Hopefully, we won't get any other comments like these."
Rybakina also explained something that many tennis fans might not now. Tennis, like any other sport, is very stressful, and in the heat of a moment, people might act differently than they would have acted normally.
"It's difficult because, well, I'm stressed out, kind of every point. So sometimes I can get mad also for no reason to tell something to my team, but hopefully, they understand."
"I'm trying to focus on myself; sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not. So it's just something between us, but everything is good."
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