As Elena Rybakina lifts the 2026 Australian Open title, attention turns to coach Stefano Vukov and his complex role in her rise to the top of women’s tennis.
Fresh off her victory at the 2026 Australian Open, Elena Rybakina has once again confirmed her place among the elite of women’s tennis.
Her serve was fierce and her confidence undeterred in Melbourne as she was taken through to another Grand Slam victory.
When Rybakina was celebrating her victory, the attention was, of course, on the character standing right behind her in the player box, her coach, Stefano Vukov.
Long a constant presence in her career, Vukov’s influence has shaped far more than match tactics or training routines.
With Rybakina continuing her rise on the WTA Tour, Vukov’s return to her coaching team after a period away has naturally prompted renewed discussion about their partnership.
It is a partnership built on on-court ambition but tested by off-court attention, and it remains closely watched as Rybakina competes at the peak of her career.
Stefano Vukov’s Background and Rise as Elena Rybakina’s Coach
Born on March 27, 1987, in Rijeka, Croatia, Stefano Vukov began his tennis journey as a professional player before finding his true footing on the other side of the court.
While his playing career was modest, it laid the foundation for a coaching path that would eventually place him among the most recognizable figures on the WTA Tour.
Vukov has been best known for his work with Elena Rybakina, a partnership that began in 2019 and has shaped the defining chapters of her career.
Through steady progress, setbacks, and returns, he has remained a central presence in her development, helping her from a rising prospect into a multiple Grand Slam champion.
Vukov grew up in a non-sporting household; his mother worked as a dentist while his father was a software engineer, but he discovered tennis relatively late, beginning the sport at the age of 12.
While pursuing a college education, he also chased a professional playing career, competing primarily on the ITF Futures Circuit.
Although his time on tour was short-lived, peaking at an ATP singles ranking outside the top 1000, Vukov retired from professional play in 2009, choosing instead to remain within the sport through coaching.
A few years after stepping away from competition, Vukov relocated to the United States and began coaching at a tennis academy in Florida.
There, he slowly developed an experience in dealing with young and new players, including future WTA athletes like Sachia Vickery, Renata Zarazua, and Anhelina Kalinina.
This stage of development was essential in the formation of his fact-based and fact-finding coaching philosophy.
In February 2019, Elena Rybakina, then ranked outside the WTA’s top tier, appointed Vukov as her first full-time traveling coach.
The collaboration delivered results quickly.
Rybakina has quickly scaled up the rankings under his guidance, won her first WTA titles, and has made herself one of the most dangerous power hitters on the tour.
Vukov’s coaching style, often described as emotional and intense, has been in stark contrast with the cool and reserved attitude of Rybakina.
He has openly acknowledged that he pushes her during matches to become more focused and tactically clear, even when such interactions seem awkward to the outside audience.
Although sometimes criticized, Rybakina has continuously justified their working relationship, saying that they trust each other and have common competitive interests.
In 2022, when Rybakina became the maiden Grand Slam champion at Wimbledon, their collaboration came to a turning point, and the occasion marked the time when their long-term vision came true.
The duo took a short break in 2024 after a season interrupted by illness, but Vukov returned to her coaching arrangement at the beginning of 2025.
After navigating a period of suspension and appeal, he returned fully to the tour later that year, just months before Rybakina’s title-winning run at the 2026 Australian Open.
Why Elena Rybakina’s Coach Stefano Vukov Returned to the Spotlight at the 2026 Australian Open?
Elena Rybakina’s victory at the 2026 Australian Open brought renewed attention to her coach, Stefano Vukov, who was formally acknowledged during the post-match trophy ceremony in Melbourne.
The recognition was a significant comeback for Vukov.
In January 2025, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) provisionally suspended him and was investigating alleged violations of its code of conduct, a move that barred him from being accredited in the Australian Open of that year.
Vukov denied it and appealed the decision.
The suspension was reversed in August 2025 after an independent tribunal reviewed it, and Vukov was cleared to resume coaching on the WTA Tour.
The 2026 Australian Open, therefore, represented his first appearance back in Rybakina’s player box at a Grand Slam since the investigation concluded.
On court, Rybakina claimed her second major title by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in three sets.
During the final, Vukov was an active presence in the stands, offering instructions as Rybakina recovered from a 0–3 deficit in the deciding set to secure the championship.
The decision to invite Vukov onto the podium during the trophy presentation drew attention, given the recent nature of his suspension and reinstatement.
Tournament officials claimed that the gesture was a sign of the increased acknowledgment of the role of coaches in professional tennis, and commentators pointed to when the recognition came.
Rybakina has improved her performance since she reunited with Vukov at the beginning of the 2025 season.
Entering Melbourne, she had recorded more wins against top-10 opponents than any other player on the WTA Tour over the previous year.
The Australian Open final marked her 10th consecutive victory over a top-ranked rival.
Rybakina has consistently declined to address off-court issues, instead emphasizing preparation and performance.
After the final, she credited her coaching team for guiding her through a difficult preseason and maintaining focus throughout the tournament.
AI Overview
Stefano Vukov is back in the player’s box as the primary coach of Elena Rybakina following her victory at the 2026 Australian Open.
The Croatian coach rejoined Rybakina’s team in 2025 after a brief separation and a provisional WTA suspension that was later overturned on appeal.
Under Vukov’s guidance, Rybakina defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to claim her second Grand Slam title.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Did Stefano Vukov support Elena Rybakina at the 2023 Australian Open?
Yes, he was part of Elena Rybakina’s coaching setup during the 2023 Australian Open, where she reached the final.
2. Why was Stefano Vukov suspended by the WTA?
He was provisionally suspended in 2025 following a WTA code of conduct investigation. The suspension was later overturned on appeal.
3. Did Stefano Vukov mistreat or abuse Elena Rybakina?
No misconduct was legally established. Elena Rybakina has publicly stated that she never filed a complaint and has consistently denied that Vukov mistreated her.
4. Is Elena Rybakina dating her coach Stefano Vukov?
There has been no official confirmation from either party. Both Rybakina and Vukov have kept their relationship strictly defined as professional.
5. Has Stefano Vukov ever been married?
No, he has never been married. As of the latest publicly available information, he remains unmarried, with no confirmed reports of an engagement or spouse.
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