By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 11, 2025
Elena Rybakina took questions from the press in the present day and, naturally, most of them have been about her teaching scenario. The World No.6, who shook up the tennis world by asserting she could be bringing former coach Stefano Vukov again into her crew even if she employed Goran Ivanisevic to be her coach late final yr, supplied some readability in regards to the fluid scenario, however not a lot.
Rybakina, who will face Emerson Jones in her opening match in Melbourne, admitted that the present scenario is way from superb. Vukov is at the moment underneath provisional suspension from the tour, and has not been granged a credential on the Australian Open.
Learn Extra: Rybakina in Limbo, as Vukov Faces Suspension from the WTA Tour
“Nicely positively not the perfect scenario,” she mentioned. “As I mentioned, I’m not proud of the entire scenario. Particularly when nonetheless some coaches are making some feedback, and the people who find themselves not so near the tennis world simply see the feedback they usually decide it up and make much more of a present out of this.
“I don’t assume it’s honest. My aim right here is to concentrate on the matches. That is what I’m gonna do.”
Rybakina clarified her present scenario, saying that Ivanisevic could be together with her in Melbourne, and hinted that rumors that Ivanisevic was blindsided by the information that Vukov could be rejoining the crew weren’t true.
“We’re right here, we’re working, sure it’s him,” she mentioned, including: “As I mentioned already I’m not going to discuss it extra, for the reason that scenario shouldn’t be clear from the WTA Tour.”
Rybakina labeled feedback made by Pam Shriver in regards to the nature of her relationship with Vukov as unfair and mentioned she had by no means spoken to the American.
It’s a subject that’s close to and pricey to the legend’s coronary heart. In 2023 Shriver opened up for the primary time about an inappropriate relationship she had together with her former coach when she was simply 17.
“I don’t know her personally,” Rybakina mentioned of Shriver. “She by no means got here to me. She by no means talked with me. I do know her story. It’s unhappy, however it doesn’t imply different gamers are dealing with the identical points. She doesn’t know me. I don’t know her. I don’t assume it’s honest to make any feedback like that. Particularly being an lively coach, commentator, journalist and so forth.”
