So, it made sense to make one necessary change, with long-time coach Stefano Vukov being highlighted as area earmarked for alteration.
Now, free from his shackles, other high-profile names have begun to emerge to speak about this highly controversial figure.
Rennae Stubbs reacts to Elena Rybakina coaching change
Speaking on her podcast, Rennae Stubbs sought to offer her verdict on the news that Elena Rybakina had split with her coach.
The world number four is not alone in parting ways with a mentor at the moment, with so many having made that decision in recent months, as Coco Gauff split with Brad Gilbert just as Iga Swiatek decided to find a new coach too.
However, the reasons behind her choice have now been supported by this pundit, who has highlighted some curious behaviour.
Stubbs claimed: ‘You guys know, if you have listened to our podcast, I had my feelings and my thoughts when it came to her coach. I thought he was not a good element.
‘When I’m playing a match, I don’t want to see my coach gesturing, looking all pissed off up there. And there’s been some coaches of late that I’m like: ‘Why do these players allow these coaches to look like this?’ Because you need a positive influence around you when you’re looking up there.
‘Now, off the court, in a way he might be the greatest guy in the world to her, I don’t know. But when it comes to being her coach, I saw way too many things of him yelling at her in the gym, other players have said stuff to me.
‘When she would win matches, he was giving her s**t. This is what other people saw. There’s 25 other people that could see the same thing I was seeing.’
Elena Rybakina’s fitness continues to falter
It has been a tough year for the Kazakhstani, who has seen it plagued with fitness issues that have either hampered her performance or ruled her out from competitions completely.
Rybakina had to pull out of two Asian tournaments due to an ongoing injury, having also missed the Olympics with bronchitis and exited the US Open right before her second-round match too.
This has all been compounded by her split with Vukov, her highly controversial coach who remains scrutinised even after his departure from the sport.
2024 seems set to be a write-off for Rybakina, but there is hope that soon she can recapture her form and fitness to once again reaffirm her status as a viable challenger for elite honours.
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