Elena Rybakina showcased her formidable skills at the Australian Open, decisively defeating Australian wildcard Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the second round. Despite the absence of her coach, Stefano Vukov, in her player box due to an ongoing investigation into his behavior, Rybakina remained unfazed during the match. The Kazakh player faced scrutiny leading up to the tournament after it was revealed that Vukov had been banned from coaching on the Tour, yet she demonstrated remarkable focus, delivering an impressive performance that included 11 aces and 26 winners.
The No. 6 seed broke Jones twice in the first set and continued her dominance by securing three additional breaks in the second set, sealing a comprehensive victory. Following her win, Rybakina expressed satisfaction with her performance, particularly her serving, and looked ahead to her next challenge against rising star Iva Jovic, currently ranked No. 191 in the world. “Very happy with the performance, with the way I served also today. Looking forward for the next match,” she stated.
As speculation swirled about Vukov’s situation, Rybakina had hoped for a resolution before the tournament began, with reports indicating that the WTA could conclude their investigation at any moment. However, when the match commenced, only Goran Ivanisevic was present in her box. In a pre-tournament press conference, Rybakina defended her relationship with Vukov, criticizing the media and members of the tennis community for making unfounded assumptions about their dynamic. “I have never made any complaints or said any of these things [that the media accused me of saying]. I always said he never mistreated me,” the 25-year-old emphasized, affirming her support for her coach amidst the controversy.
Related topics
- Zheng Qinwen on Cold Handshakes: No Smile
- Why Djokovic Risks Falling in ATP Rankings
- Sinner and Alcaraz Train Together
