Stefano Vukov, the former coach of top women’s tennis player Elena Rybakina, has been suspended following an independent investigation by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the governing body announced.

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has stated her displeasure following the WTA Tour’s decision to maintain the ban on her ex-coach, Stefano Vukov. The ban results from a third-party inquiry into his supposed WTA Code of Conduct violation.

The report also stated that there is evidence that suggests the two are in "a romantic relationship" since they stayed together in the same hotel room in Melbourne during this past Australian Open. Meanwhile, the 2022 Wimbledon champion claimed throughout the entire process that she was "never mistreated" by Vukov.

Elena Rybakina has broken her silence after the WTA confirmed her coach Stefano Vukov would remain banned. At the beginning of the year, it emerged that Vukov had been provisionally suspended while the WTA investigated a potential breach of the Code of Conduct. The coach denied any wrongdoing.

World number seven Elena Rybakina says she is "disappointed" at the WTA's decision to uphold the ban against her former coach Stefano Vukov following an independent investigation into his behaviour towards the player.

Stefano Vukov should not be allowed “to work with any girl because of his tendency”, according to former doubles world No 1 Rennae Stubbs as she called for a lifetime ban from women’s tennis following the recent WTA findings into his behaviour towards Elena Rybakina.