The energy is different when Elena Rybakina’s crew is all together again. Just days after her team reunited in Cincinnati, the 2022 Wimbledon champion has bulldozed her way into the semifinals. Sitting courtside for the first time since his WTA ban ended, coach Stefano Vukov is back by her side, and fans are watching closely to see what changes. Everyone wants to know: Will this reunion spark something big as Rybakina makes her latest bid for a huge title?
What Does Stefano Vukov’s Return Mean for Elena Rybakina in Cincinnati?
With her team finally whole again, Rybakina opened up, barely, about what it’s like having Vukov back in her corner at the Cincinnati Open. She didn’t dig into the details of the coach’s previous suspension, but when pressed about Vukov’s return, she simply said:
“It’s great that he’s here in the box, finally, so it’s a good thing. It’s always a help when the full team is here with me.”
Elena Rybakina made a press conférence yesterday after the win vs Sabalenka, first PC in Cincinnati.
Here her words about Vukov back :#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/vfbjZCRvF6— Sebastien G. (@sebsharfam2) August 16, 2025
On top of that, Rybakina’s coaching group features Davide Sanguinetti as her primary coach, with Vukov now reinstated, Stefan Duell taking care of her physiotherapy, and Aldo Chiari overseeing her fitness work.
The timeline has been anything but quiet. Rybakina first teamed with Vukov in 2019, collected a Wimbledon trophy together in 2022, and then split just before the 2024 US Open. After a couple of short tenures with Goran Ivanišević and others, Vukov returned to her team in January 2025, but was hit by a WTA suspension for alleged misconduct. Once Vukov’s appeal succeeded on August 8, he rejoined her at courtside in Cincinnati, right as the tournament entered its crucial stages. He was immediately back in her box.
How Has Elena Rybakina Performed Since Vukov’s Reinstatement?
Rybakina’s 2024-25 has had some highlights, but also plenty of hurdles. She grabbed a WTA 500 trophy at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in May, her only title so far this year. That was followed by losses in the quarterfinals at Queen’s Club to Tatjana Maria and at Berlin to Aryna Sabalenka.
Pushing forward, Rybakina looked strong at the Citi DC Open, making it to the semifinals in a tight three-set battle against Leylah Fernandez, who went on to win it all. But her run cooled again at the Canadian Open, where she lost to teenager Victoria Mboko.
Since Vukov has been back, though, Rybakina looks like she’s found another gear. In the Cincinnati quarterfinals, she cruised past defending champ Aryna Sabalenka, winning 6-1, 6-4, and firing 11 aces without facing a single break point.
The win against Sabalenka capped a series of gutsy performances in Cincinnati. Rybakina had already beaten Renata Zarazúa and Elise Mertens, coming from behind after dropping the first set in both matches. She also fought back from a tough first-set tiebreak loss to Madison Keys, a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 turnaround, in the Round of 16.
Now, Rybakina faces the next big challenge: Iga Świątek awaits her in the semifinals, where she’ll try to reach her first Masters 1000 final of 2025. The real test is coming, and this reunited team will need to bring their best to the court.
