New York (AFP) – Elena Rybakina said her reunion with controversial coach Stefano Vukov has boosted her US Open campaign after she demolished Britain’s Emma Raducanu to reach the fourth round on Friday.
The Moscow-born ninth seed from Kazakhstan — whose previous best result in New York was a pair of third round appearances — blitzed Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour on the Louis Armstrong Stadium court. Vukov could be seen shouting his support from Rybakina’s box throughout the match, in what is only his second event since a ban preventing him from entering all WTA tournament venues was lifted earlier this month.
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“I never had any issues with him, so for me, as I said, it’s just nice to see him in the box,” Rybakina said. “Definitely helps a lot, it’s important when the whole team can support you.” Vukov was fired by Rybakina just before last year’s US Open, but subsequently bombarded her with requests to return which left her fearing for her safety according to details of a WTA investigation reported by The Athletic. Vukov was banned for a year in January after the WTA ruled he had engaged in “abuse of authority and abusive behaviour” towards Rybakina. However, Rybakina subsequently reunited with the Croat, who returned to courtside at the Cincinnati Open after successfully appealing against his suspension.
Friday’s victory over Raducanu sends Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, into the fourth round of the US Open for the first time. Rybakina said her campaign in New York has also been boosted by a return to full fitness. She fought a long battle with insomnia which left her immune system compromised, and she missed most of the second half of the 2024 season.
“I had big issues with insomnia, like 2023, the whole year was pretty tough for me,” she said, adding that lack of sleep had also dogged her in 2024. “But now it’s much better. Now I have no issues, which I’m pretty happy about,” she said.
Rybakina will face another former Wimbledon champion in the fourth round in the shape of the Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova. Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon winner, upset Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
© 2024 AFP
