Players have turned the WTA upside down with a surprising streak of shock revelations these past few weeks. Off the dome, Elena Rybakina‘s name comes to mind. The Kazakh recently announced her break up with Stefano Vukov as a coach. Having enjoyed stellar success from their partnership, Rybakina’s decision sent shock waves in the community. With controversies surrounding their fall off, one crucial question comes into play. Who will be the next face of Rybakina’s coaching team?

After a struggling run this season, wherein the 2022 Wimbledon champion faced physical limitations due to declining health, a new coach might just do wonders for her. However, with no new expert in sight and the process of hiring being tedious, leaving the Kazakh’s training unattended doesn’t sound fair. In hopes of remedying such concerns, the 25-year-old has been furnished with a temporary fix.

According to reports from ‘Sportsarena’, Rybakina will train under compatriots Lovro Zovko and captain of their national team, Yury Shchukin till the season concludes. Notably, this arrangement won’t sideline her training while she hunts for talented coaches available in the market. The official statement from the the VP of Kazakh Federation, Doskaraev read:

“Everything is in progress now. The search is underway. Most likely, the second coach Lovro Zovko will temporarily replace him. He is a priority choice for Elena Rybakina’s team. Other coaches are also being considered. As we know, there was a long-term cooperation with Stefano Vukov, more than 5 years. Most likely, Lovre Zorko will stay until the end of the year. Because Elena knows him. The captain of the national team, Yuri Shchukin, also helps him.”

For those unaware, players including Coco Gauff and Iga Swaitek also announced major changes in their coaching team. Lending more stress into the already tense environment, contentious updates have been swarming around Rybakina’s shock split. Vukov’s apparent belligerent behavior toward the Kazakh elected an insider to spill nasty details about their partnership.

Tennis Insider makes alarming claims about Elena Rybakina’s coach Stefano Vukov

Elena Rybakina’s relationship with former coach Stefano Vukov wasn’t all jolly as it appeared on the surface. According to tennis journalist Sonya Tartakova, disturbing details surrounding their partnership were brewing underneath their joint accomplishments. She further made bold claims citing Vukov’s verbal abuse to Rybakina, forcing the latter’s parents to jump in and put an end to their toxic dynamic.

She said, “Rybakina’s parents stood up for her because she could not break this vicious circle. On the one hand, this is the coach who worked with her since she was 17, and she, together with her family, chose him.”

Hoping to restore her dropped form and rectify physical concerns that sidelined her from attending the Asian hardcourt swing, Rybakina will hope to look strong for the WTA Finals in Abu Dhabi later this season.