"He made mistakes, but he wanted to help her": Dementieva's strong words on the Rybakina-Vukov duo

Arthur Millot

le 12/11/2025 à 15h37

2 min to read

Dementieva Rybakina

Former world number 3, Elena Dementieva, has spoken out about the tumultuous relationship between Elena Rybakina and her coach Stefano Vukov.

The story between Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov has long divided the tennis world. Their collaboration, suspended, broken off, and then resumed, intrigues as much as it fascinates. But Elena Dementieva, a former Russian tennis star and ex-world number 3, wanted to shed new light on the matter.

"This story is old and I believe it has been closed for a long time. It is very ambiguous. I understand that Elena, a very discreet person, found herself in an extremely delicate situation when the whole world started commenting on her personal and professional relationship with her coach. I am certain that he immediately perceived the immense talent he had before his eyes.

Yes, he made mistakes: he was sometimes too emotional or too demanding, but it came from a sincere desire to unlock her potential. Many coaches have been in the business for decades, and their main motivation remains the win bonus. Here, the situation was completely different. Rybakina and Stefano grew up together in tennis. Their bond was born from a shared dream, not from a contract."

Finally, despite the tensions, despite the judgments, Rybakina returned to Vukov. A choice that the former champion also commented on.

"I don't know if it was a completely personal decision or if she succumbed to public pressure. But this comeback, whether we like it or not, ended in triumph."

For the record, Stefano Vukov had received a one-year suspension for acts of maltreatment towards Elena Rybakina. A decision he appealed and which was lifted last August.