Stefano Vukov Cleared to Return to the WTA Circuit
The coach of the 2022 Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina, has been authorized by the WTA Tour to return after his suspension for a possible breach of the code of conduct. Stefano Vukov was provisionally suspended in January, while the tour was conducting an investigation. In February, it was announced that the investigation had concluded and that the ban remained in effect, without specifying its duration. The organization announced on Friday that Vukov will be able to obtain credentials again, which will allow him to access the players’ areas and practice courts at WTA events.Rybakina announced before last year’s US Open that Vukov would no longer be her coach, but then said before the Australian Open that he would rejoin her team. She insisted that he never mistreated her during the time they worked together. Currently ranked number 10 in the WTA Tour rankings, Rybakina reached the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Montreal before losing to Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, who became the champion.“The WTA is fully committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all athletes and other participants, as stated in our Code of Conduct and WTA Protection Code,” the tour stated in a statement. “Any sanctions issued following a violation of these protection rules are carefully considered and are subject to appeal to an independent tribunal. While the details of the case remain confidential, we can confirm that Mr. Vukov is eligible to receive credentials at WTA events.”
WTA Tour
