Rybakina Defends Ex-Coach

World No. 6 says he never mistreated her, prefers to focus on Melbourne matches

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Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina said on January 11 she had not complained about her former coach Stefano Vukov before his provisional suspension by the governing body of women's tennis for a potential code of conduct breach.

The 25-year-old split with Vukov in August, just days ahead of the US Open, before appointing Goran Ivanisevic in November, but had wanted to bring Vukov back into her coaching team in January.

Vukov, who is currently being investigated by the WTA and cannot obtain credentials to its tournaments, denies wrongdoing and told The Athletic he "never abused anyone" after the outlet first reported the provisional ban.

He was reported to have used harsh and abusive behaviour towards players.

"I don't agree with a lot of things the WTA do in the sense of my relationship with Stefano," Rybakina told reporters ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 12.

"I have never made any complaints or any of these things. I always said that he never mistreated me. I don't really want to speak about this any more. I want to focus on my matches here."