Rybakina Defends Her Coach

[jimlosaltos]

Elena Rybakina confirmed rumors that her long-time coach Stefano Vukov was suspended by the WTA because of complaints that he was abusing her. But, there'a a twist, It wasn't Elena that complained. She remains adamant that Vukov was not abusive and wants him back on her team alongside new coach Goran Ivanisevic. Apparently, Pam Shriver, who coaches another player, Donna Vekic, and unnamed other players reportedly made the reports. Here's an article on TheAthletic (paywall) and another here.

I can understand the WTAs dilemma. There have been several incidents where young WTA players were exploited by older, male coaches. The position of authority over a younger person and traveling together creates issues. And there are many sad cases of WTA players being abused and exploited by their own parents, from Mary Pierce, to Jelena Dokic, whose father was banned from pro tennis tournaments for abusive behavior .

But Rybakina is no naive teenager. She's a 25 years old multi-millionaire who has been on tour since 2016 and Vukov is her employee. It's remarkably paternalistic to intervene in protection of an adult woman because of complaints from a competitor's coach. This isn't a case of a physically beaten spouse, or child; it's a professional athlete apparently being yelled at. It seems sexist to "protect" her from her own hire.

A couple of weeks ago a coach on the San Francisco 49ers NFL team yelled angrily at a player, rookie Richard Pearsall Jr. after he twice lined up incorrectly, drawing penalties that possibly prevented the team from scoring. Pearsall is the same age as Rybakina, and also a well paid athlete (albeit not as well paid as she is). Imagine if the NFL suspended the 49er coach because of a complaint by a coach of another team, without due process and over Pearsall's objections. That's so silly it's unthinkable. But the Women's Tennis Association is saying that adult women need protection from their own decisions whether they like it or not.

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[stotty]

That's a bizaare story...quite bonkers actually. Might be interesting to know the exact type of abuse the complainers are talking about...be nice to get to the nitty gritty.

[stroke]

Elena Rybakina confirmed rumors that her long-time coach Stefano Vukov was suspended by the WTA because of complaints that he was abusing her. But, there'a a twist, It wasn't Elena that complained. She remains adamant that Vukov was not abusive and wants him back on her team alongside new coach Goran Ivanisevic. Apparently, Pam Shriver, who coaches another player, Donna Vekic, and unnamed other players reportedly made the reports. Here's an article on TheAthletic (paywall) and another here.

I can understand the WTAs dilemma. There have been several incidents where young WTA players were exploited by older, male coaches. The position of authority over a younger person and traveling together creates issues. And there are many sad cases of WTA players being abused and exploited by their own parents, from Mary Pierce, to Jelena Dokic, whose father was banned from pro tennis tournaments for abusive behavior .

But Rybakina is no naive teenager. She's a 25 years old multi-millionaire who has been on tour since 2016 and Vukov is her employee. It's remarkably paternalistic to intervene in protection of an adult woman because of complaints from a competitor's coach. This isn't a case of a physically beaten spouse, or child; it's a professional athlete apparently being yelled at. It seems sexist to "protect" her from her own hire.

A couple of weeks ago a coach on the San Francisco 49ers NFL team yelled angrily at a player, rookie Richard Pearsall Jr. after he twice lined up incorrectly, drawing penalties that possibly prevented the team from scoring. Pearsall is the same age as Rybakina, and also a well paid athlete (albeit not as well paid as she is). Imagine if the NFL suspended the 49er coach because of a complaint by a coach of another team, without due process and over Pearsall's objections. That's so silly it's unthinkable. But the Women's Tennis Association is saying that adult women need protection from their own decisions whether they like it or not.

#

I think it is just a sign of the times, it seems folks are real eager to predetermine or decide someone is inappropriate or something, making someone feel unsafe.

[jimlosaltos]

In the building soap opera ... Goran Ivanisevic addresses his surprise at finding out that Rybakina is bringing back her suspended coach, who Goran was hired to replace.

From Ben Rothenberg's "Bounces': "“Really—it’s not good for anybody,” Ivanisevic told Bounces Tuesday at the Australian Open.

"I first asked Ivanisevic if that characterization of “blindsiding” was accurate; Ivanisevic demurred, with evident deflation.

“Listen, the investigation is still on, so we wait for WTA to finish, and then I can talk about everything,” Ivanisevic told Bounces. “But until then… I spoke to Elena; I told her what I think.”

Ivanisevic then acknowledged that his tenure is tenuous, suggesting that his remaining with Rybakina was contingent on the WTA’s ruling regarding Vukov.

“I am, for the moment, here,” Ivanisevic told Bounces. “What's going to happen in a couple of days, I don't know. But for the moment, I am here. Hopefully I will stay, and hopefully everything is going to be OK. But let's take day by day.”

When I again asked about the suggestion he had been “blindsided,” Ivanisevic didn’t refute or confirm that.

“Listen, I don't want to…—heh,” he said. “It's a very strange situation. So I don't want to, really. I can talk to you after WTA makes the decision, and then we can.”

Ivanisevic said he wasn’t sure when the conclusion of the investigation would ultimately be.

“We're hearing every day different things,” Ivanisevic said. “But hopefully, [by] the end of this week.”

My last question to Ivanisevic was to confirm that a conclusion that re-installed Vukov as a permitted coach would cause him to depart his role on Rybakina’s team.

“I mean, let's put it this way: I'm here,” Ivanisevic said. “I just want to wait for WTA; I think it's fair. And then, we'll see what's going to be next. Still, I don't want to go too much into the future. It's today, Tuesday. Let's stay in Tuesday.”

Thanking him for his time, I then let Ivanisevic continue what he was unexpectedly doing—watching Emilio Nava and Tomas Barrios Vera play their first round qualifying match out on the Australian Open’s Court 13—in whatever currently counts as peace for him.

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