“I can’t accept (coach) Vukov’s behaviour” – Bartoli on Rybakina’s journey

In the most recent edition of Match Points, Marion Bartoli sides with Pam Shriver when it comes to Elena Rybakina’s coach

Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov, 2022 | © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Carrie Dunn

January 31, 2023

As Elena Rybakina progressed to the Australian Open final, former doubles world No 1 Pam Shriver tweeted: “As I watch Rybakina try to win her second major in seven months, I hope she finds a coach who speaks and treats her with respect at ALL times and does not ever accept anything less.”

As I watch Rybakina try to win her second major in 7 months, I hope she finds a coach who speaks and treats her with respect at ALL times and does not ever accept anything less.
— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) January 28, 2023

And in the latest episode of Match Points (listen to the brand new podcast episode here), former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli completely agreed that the behaviour of Stefano Vukov towards his player was unacceptable.

“The way Rybakina’s coach is talking to Rybakina on the court is just not something I can accept. I just can’t take that any more,” she said.

I sincerely hope for her sake and for her to be able to continue that game that she will be able to find a coach that talks with respect to her
Marion Bartoli

“I sincerely hope for her sake and for her to be able to continue that game that she will be able to find a coach that talks with respect to her no matter what the result is because she is really trying her hardest on the court.

“To see someone going hard at her in such a negative way – and I’ve seen that in the past myself, much more at events when I was with Jelena Ostapenko when she was playing those events as well, in some practice courts when there is no cameras – he is behaving in some ways I can’t accept.”

Rybakina had already defended her coach on social media. She described the criticism of Vukov as “disturbing” and “fake news”, adding: “We plotted a stratefy together in how I could achieve great things and his method shows in my Grand Slam success so far. He is a passionate coach, with a lot of knowledge about tennis… Those who know me well will know that I would never accept a coach that didn’t respect me and all our hard work.”