Elena Rybakina reportedly hires temporary coach after Stefano Vukov split

Elena Rybakina is reportedly set to temporarily work with coach Lovro Zovko as she looks to end a troubled season on a high.

World No 5 Rybakina has won three titles in 2024 though her season has been marred with ongoing injury and illness issues and a controversial split with long-time coach Stefano Vukov.

The Kazakh split with Vukov shortly before the US Open, where she won her opening match – the last time she appeared on court – before withdrawing due to a lower back injury.

Since her withdrawal and the split with Vukov, rumours and speculation have grown about the Croatian’s alleged behaviour toward Rybakina, and the cause of her health struggles.

However, despite her withdrawal from the Asian Swing, the 25-year-old is still well-placed to qualify for the WTA Finals and still hopes to play in Riyadh.

And it looks likely that Croatian Zovko, a former doubles world No 45 who currently holds a coaching role within the Kazakh Tennis Federation, will be the man to guide her through that tournament.

The partnership was mentioned by Kazakh Tennis Federation Vice President Dias Doskarayev, who was speaking on 24 KZ TV.

“Everything is in progress now. The search is underway,” said Doskarayev on Rybakina’s coaching search.

“Most likely, the second coach Lovro Zovko will temporarily replace him. He is a priority choice for Elena Rybakina’s team.

“Stefano Vukov brought her from 200th position to the top five. Therefore, it is a difficult question [to replace him].

“The process is underway. Most likely, Lovro Zorko will stay until the end of the year, because Elena knows him. The captain of the national team, Yuri Shchukin, also helps him.”

Despite withdrawing from 11 tournaments pre or mid-event in 2024, Rybakina still sits fourth in the WTA Live Race to Riyadh and is all but guaranteed a spot at the year-end championships.

The Kazakh is set to play at the WTA Finals for a second time and will look to better her group stage exit from the 2023 Finals in Cancun.

Her season has been troubled off the court but she has still managed to find significant success on court, with runs to the last four of Wimbledon and last eight of the French Open among her biggest successes.

Rybakina also lifted titles at the WTA 500 events in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, and Stuttgart, alongside reaching WTA 1000 finals in Doha and Miami.