Elena Rybakina stepped onto the Cincinnati Open courts this week with a familiar face, Stefano Vukov, by her side for the first time in months. The former Wimbledon champion’s coaching carousel has finally come full circle, but not without leaving plenty of drama in its wake.
After a year of splitting with coaches, appeals, and WTA bans, Rybakina now finds herself in the quarterfinals with both her original mentor and a massive challenge ahead.
How Did Stefano Vukov Return to Elena Rybakina’s Team?
Rybakina’s coaching situation has resembled a tennis match itself, full of unexpected twists and dramatic momentum shifts. She first partnered with Vukov in 2019, a collaboration that peaked when she captured her maiden Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2022. However, their five-year partnership abruptly ended just before the 2024 US Open.
Following the split, Rybakina recruited Goran Ivanišević, Novak Djokovic’s former coach, hoping his experience would elevate her game. This partnership proved short-lived, lasting only through the Australian Open in January 2025. When Rybakina brought Vukov back to her team in January, Ivanišević departed, suggesting he was caught off guard by the decision.
The reunion quickly turned controversial. Just days after Vukov’s return, the WTA announced his ban for violating their code of conduct. Officials suspended him for abusive behavior toward Rybakina, including verbal attacks and creating what they described as a “relationship of dependence”. The complaints originated from anonymous sources, while Rybakina consistently denied any tension between them.
The story took another turn on August 8, 2025, when the WTA lifted Vukov’s ban after he successfully appealed their decision. He can now attend WTA events again and was spotted with Rybakina at the Cincinnati Open.
BREAKING:
Stefano Vukov, Elena Rybakina’s coach, has had his suspension lifted after appealing the WTA’s decision.
(via @CDEccleshare)
Source:https://t.co/iGxbaTlG1B pic.twitter.com/hTgKbaKlu0
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 8, 2025
Davide Sanguinetti, who joined her team in February 2025, currently serves as her primary coach. The former professional player brings extensive coaching experience with other top-level players. Her support team also features Stefan Duell as her physiotherapist and Aldo Chiari handling fitness preparation.
Can Elena Rybakina Upset Aryna Sabalenka in the Cincinnati Quarterfinals?
Rybakina has displayed remarkable resilience throughout the Cincinnati Open, turning potential defeats into victories through sheer determination. Her opening match against Mexico’s Renata Zarazua set the tone for what would become a pattern of comeback performances. After dropping the first set 4-6, she dominated the second set 6-0 and closed out the match with a 7-5 third set.
The third round brought another test against Belgian Elise Mertens. Once again, Rybakina found herself trailing after losing the opening set 4-6. She responded by taking the second set 6-3 and securing the victory with a 7-5 third set, improving her record against Mertens to five wins in six encounters.
Her most impressive performance came in the Round of 16 against sixth-seeded American Madison Keys. Keys had previously beaten Rybakina at the Australian Open earlier in 2025 en route to lifting that title, making this a crucial revenge opportunity. Rybakina lost the first set in a tie-break 6-7 but showed her fighting spirit by claiming the second set 6-4 and dominating the decisive third set 6-2.
Now Rybakina faces her biggest challenge yet: world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals. The head-to-head statistics favor the Belarusian, who leads their rivalry 8-5, including two exhibition matches, and defeated Rybakina in their most recent meeting in Berlin in 2025. For Rybakina, this marks only her second Cincinnati quarterfinal appearance, with her previous run ending in a loss to Madison Keys in 2022.
