Elena Rybakina has emerged as a dominant force in women’s tennis over the past year, solidifying her position among the sport’s elite with multiple Grand Slam titles and a rise to the world No. 1 ranking. The 27-year-old’s remarkable transformation has seen her capture three major championships, including victories over Aryna Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open and US Open finals. Rybakina is now poised to contend for a career Grand Slam, standing just one French Open title away from joining the ranks of Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner as players with titles on all four major surfaces.
Rybakina’s progression comes after a period characterised by health setbacks and questions about her coaching relationship. Throughout 2024 and 2025, she faced injuries and multiple tournament withdrawals that impacted her performance. Central to this turbulent period was her association with coach Stefano Vukov. In January 2025, Vukov was banned from coaching at Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) events following an investigation that concluded he had engaged in abusive conduct toward Rybakina. The suspension was later overturned in August of the same year after an appeal, allowing Vukov to rejoin her team for tournaments.
Rybakina publicly criticized the WTA's decision to suspend Vukov and has alluded to the restoration of her full coaching team as instrumental to her recent success. Speaking ahead of a recent match, she acknowledged the challenges of previous years off the court and credited a strong support network with helping her maintain focus on tennis. “I think now I have a very good team around me, good people,” she said, noting that managing day-to-day challenges remained key to sustaining her high level of play.
Vukov’s coaching style has been a subject of debate within the tennis community. Prior to his suspension, his on-court demeanour was often described as harsh and critical during matches, eliciting discomfort among commentators and former players. Since his reinstatement, observers have noted a shift toward a more encouraging and tactically sound coaching approach. Some interpret this change as a response to public scrutiny, while others view it as a strategic adjustment to the presence of media and broadcast microphones.
Despite Rybakina’s athletic achievements and steady rise, her camp has largely remained silent on the specifics of the coaching controversy since the ban was lifted. This contrasts with Sabalenka’s team, who held a press conference ahead of their latest encounter. The lack of commentary from Rybakina’s side leaves lingering questions about the full nature of her relationship with Vukov and how it might continue to influence her career.
On the court, however, Rybakina’s results speak unequivocally. Her recent performance, including a commanding victory over Sabalenka at the WTA Finals, underscores her growing dominance in women’s tennis. As she builds toward potentially completing a career Grand Slam, the tennis world continues to watch both her progress and the unresolved issues surrounding her coaching team with keen interest.