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The story of former Elena Rybakina coach Stefan Vukov’s ban by the WTA Tour became pretty big news during the Australian Open.

You almost expected him to don a moustache and glasses and access the Melbourne Park site as a paying customer, in disguise (note: we tried to find him, and were unsuccessful).

But even as Rybakina called for the ban to be lifted, officially “re-added” him to her team in early January and bemoaned the Tour getting into her business, the WTA stood firm.

The Athletic, the sports arm of the New York Times since the newspaper gutted its sports department, exclusively reported that Vukov was provisionally suspended, and was not to be credentialed in Melbourne.

For an organization that has failed to take strong stands in the past, notably but not uniquely in the Peng Shuai situation, this was a big step forward. And not an easy one.

In a matter of 18 months, the attitude at the top of the organization in the face of increasingly visible evidence of Vukov’s treatment of the 25-year-old Rybakina has evolved from, “She’s an adult; she must know what she’s doing” to … standing firm after investigating the situation and issuing, again according to the Athletic, a one-year ban.

The WTA did not confirm that. But the Athletic reports that the one-year ban begins Jan. 31 – which is when the WTA advised Vukov and Rybakina that the investigation was concluded and the ban would be maintained. So that would put his time in the sin bin at about a year and a half in all, should he serve the full term.

As a comparison, another coach Open Court has confirmed served a suspension last year had their one-year ban reduced for “good behaviour” – meaning the coach followed all of the mandatory online courses and it appears there were no additional complaints about their behaviour.

The Athletic ON the story

(We should highlight here that in a tennis media landscape where so few big outlets devote resources to tennis, which means the PR blanket that tennis’ governing bodies throw over all the trouble spots in the sport rules the day as the prevailing narrative, the Athletic has made those investments. It felt like they resisted covering tennis for too many years, but they finally got there. If only more would, a more transparent light might be shined on the sport).

The WTA did not provide, and will not provide, any additional details on why the suspension is ongoing.

But the Athletic’s sources confirmed the one-year length. And they also provided details on a three-page summary letter sent to Rybakina and Vukov that allegedly told some uncomfortable truths – especially for those fans accusing media members of lying, and willing to buy anything Rybakina has to say on the subject.

The letter, reportedly written by new WTA CEO Portia Archer (click the pic above to read the entire story, which we will not cut and paste here, out of respect for the reporting), was three pages in length and details some of the witnessed treatment by Vukov towards Rybakina.

It’s not pretty. And the irony that young women actually PAY older men (including their fathers) to treat them this way is not lost here.

As well, the letter appears to confirm what Open Court had already long understood to be true. That while the two were not initially involved in a romantic relationship, that changed – we’re told, last spring.

It was probably the final arrow in Vukov’s power quiver, given word was getting around about his conduct.

The letter states Vukov and Rybakina shared a room in Melbourne. And also that their relationship status has no bearing on the facts at issue – which include him allegedly defying the provisional suspension by sending Rybakina multiple texts around the US Open, when there was a “no-contact” directive.

What’s next?

Rybakina has already lost a highly-regarded coach, as she reportedly failed to inform or consult Goran Ivanisevic that Vukov was back in the picture.

In Doha, Rybakina was accompanied by veteran Italian coach Davide Sanguinetti, who appears to be more pliable about the situation as the Athletic reports he has been in contact with Vukov.

In the midst of all this, Rybakina – who seemed genuinely excited (by her standards) of what Ivanisevic was bringing to the table during the preseason – lost to eventual champion Madison Keys in the fourth round in Melbourne.

Last week at the WTA 500 in Abu Dhabi, where Rybakina was the top seed, she won a pair of three-set matches (including one in a third-set tiebreak over a resurgent Ons Jabeur). Again, she lost to the eventual champion, Belinda Bencic, in the semifinals.

Rybakina won her opener against Peyton Stearns Tuesday at the WTA 1000 in Doha. She will next play Rebecca Sramkova in the third round. Sramkova did her a solid by upsetting No. 12 seed Mirra Andreeva 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Tuesday.

How all of this will affect the 25-year-old Russian Kazakh’s already fragile career is to be determined. With the term of Vukov’s suspension now established, will she take on a top-level coach for the rest of the season?

Will any coach worth his salt take on this gig, which clearly will still go through Vukov however prettily you try to paint the portait?

It’s an uncomfortable, shocker of a narrative that will weave through the WTA’s 2025 storyline.