Tennis commentators have slammed the Australian Open over the “uncomfortable” second the place Elena Rybakina’s coach was awarded a trophy.
The Kazakhstani champ received the Australian Open for the primary time in an epic comeback victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a rollercoaster final on Saturday evening.
The 26-year-old confirmed her class in getting back from 0-3 down within the third set to win the title 6-4 4-6 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.
Sabalenka was left in tears after letting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup slip by means of her fingers, whereas Rybakina served out the thriller and celebrated with a muted fist pump.
Elena Ryabakina poses together with her coaches after profitable the Australian Open women’s singles title on Jan. 31, 2026. Getty Images
It was Rybakina’s second grand slam title since she broke by means of to win Wimbledon in 2022.
After shaking fingers with Sabalenka and the chair umpire, Rybakina gave the group a humble wave together with her racquet earlier than strolling to her coach’s nook to embrace her workforce.
The second she hugged coach Stefano Vukov left many commentators uncomfortable.
They had been left squirming of their chairs much more so when Vukov was known as onto the rostrum in the course of the trophy ceremony to obtain the trophy awarded to the victorious coach.
Vukov obtained the trophy from former Aussie Open champ Jennifer Capriati earlier than returning to face on the left facet of the stage.
After shaking fingers with Sabalenka and the chair umpire, Rybakina gave the group a humble wave together with her racquet earlier than strolling to her coach’s nook to embrace her workforce. REUTERS
Elena Rybakina kisses the Australian Open women’s singles trophy. AFP by way of Getty Images
Vukov, who helped Rybakina win Wimbledon, was beforehand underneath a provisional suspension over a possible breach of the WTA’s code of conduct.
Vukov was reported to have used harsh and abusive habits in direction of gamers, claims he denied.
Rybakina was exasperated by the allegations and suspension.
“I always said that he never mistreated me,” she stated on the time. Vukov was again in Rybakina’s nook on the US Open final yr, after the ban stopping him from getting into all WTA event venues was lifted in August.
The New York Times reported Rybakina and Vukov, 12 years her senior, stayed in the identical resort room in the course of the 2025 Australian Open whereas he was banned and cited a number of sources claiming their relationship had change into romantic.
Vukov started working with Rybakina when she was 19.
At the 2024 US Open, the report alleged, Vukov was “instructed by a member of Rybakina’s workforce that he had been dismissed as her coach and to depart her alone.
“Vukov instead walked the lobby and hallways of her Manhattan hotel. He flooded her phone with text messages and more than 100 calls — according to sources with personal and professional relationships with Rybakina who were present at the hotel — as he sought another chance to convince Rybakina that her tennis career could not thrive without him.”
It’s why his presence on stage on Saturday evening has brought about such a stir.
“It was an awkward, uncomfortable moment seeing Stefano receive that trophy,” main tennis commentator Catherine Whitaker stated on The Tennis Podcast.
Vukov started working with Rybakina when she was 19. AFP by way of Getty Images
She described the introduction of the event’s teaching award as a “misfire,” saying the idea has dangerous “optics.”
“We had the moment tonight. I see the place it’s coming from and that’s great, but I just don’t think it works and tonight was a particularly extreme example of how it felt very uncomfortable,” she stated.
Podcast co-host Matt Roberts stated: “It did really feel uncomfortable. I obtained the sense that lots of people within the crowd had been uncomfortable with it. I believed lots of people knew of Vukov’s historical past.
“It did feel like there was very muted applause. Just very awkward.”
She described the introduction of the event’s teaching award as a “misfire,” saying the idea has dangerous “optics.” Getty Images
Rybakina was requested about Vukov’s return throughout her post-match press convention.
“Well, I didn’t think anything particular, because we won many titles together, and even last year in Ningbo, WTA Finals, and now this trophy I felt just, again, proud and thankful to my team for the work,” she stated.
“I imply, we did good preparation. We had some ups and downs in the course of the preseason, even starting of this yr, first event. So, yeah, I’m simply tremendous glad.
“Again, I think it’s a win for all the team, all the people who support me. I just hope that I can carry this moment throughout the whole season and keep on improving.”
Meanwhile, Rybakina barely celebrated the particular second she completed off the match with an ace.
It was an uncommon sight for a lot of viewers to look at Rybakina’s understated feelings as she humbly waved to the group and smiled.
It was in stark distinction to Sabalenka who was seen overlaying her head with a towel as she sat down forward of the trophy ceremony.
