At Indian Wells 2025, former Wimbledon champion Rybakina suffered a stunning defeat to 17-year-old rising star Mila Andreeva. This is the second consecutive defeat to the 17-year-old star, and the defeat not only exposed her continued technical slump, but also pushed the controversy over coach Stefano Vukov to the forefront. From the highlight of winning Wimbledon in 2022 to her current struggles, Rybakina's career trajectory is closely intertwined with Vukov's "toxic relationship", and this obsession has led to the voluntary departure of coach Ivanisevic, and even triggered the continuous exodus of physical trainers and team members. In this maelstrom, Rybakina's future is being tested like never before.

Vukov's partnership with Rybakina began in 2019, and her rigorous training and tactical guidance helped her reach the top of Wimbledon in 2022 and place in the world's top three. Behind this success, however, lies a huge price to pay for Rybakina. According to the WTA investigation, Vukov has been mentally abusing Rybakina for a long time, including calling her "stupid", belittling her origins ("without me, you are still picking potatoes in Russia"), and even causing her to collapse and fall ill through extreme training. What's even more shocking is that the two were revealed to be in a relationship, and Vukov even shared a hotel room with Rybakina during the Australian Open. This blurring of professional and private boundaries has been described as a "toxic relationship" by WTA CEO Portia Archer.

Rybakina's dependence on Vukov stems from both the imprint of her early career success and the complexity of her emotional entanglements. She has denied allegations of abuse in several public statements and even rehired Vukov to return to the team in January 2025, despite the WTA's ban. This choice is seen by the outside world as the embodiment of the "love brain", but the deeper reason may be her habitual obedience to authority and emotional bondage. As one fan put it: "She is like a victim trapped in a cycle of abuse, even though she knows the dangers, she can't let go." Rybakina's obsession with Vukov directly led to the departure of Ivanisevich, a core member of the team. The coach, who helped Djokovic win nine Grand Slam titles, announced his resignation after joining the team at the end of 2024 after only three months of cooperation. The ostensible reason was "the end of the trial period", but according to people familiar with the matter, Rybakina suddenly announced the return of Vukov before the Australian Open, leaving Ivan feeling betrayed. He couldn't accept the presence of two head coaches in his team at the same time, and was disappointed that Rybakina had denied allegations of abuse by Vukov.

Ivan's departure is not an isolated incident. During the 2025 Australian Open, Rybakina had to repeatedly express her dissatisfaction with the WTA at a press conference after Vukov was unable to coach due to a suspension, and then the physical trainer Azuz Simsich also announced his departure, leaving only interim coach Sanginetti, who is close to Vukov. This "de-professionalization" of the team has brought Rybakina's training quality and psychological support system to the brink of collapse.

Rybakina's current predicament is essentially a fierce conflict between professional rationality and emotional dependence. If she wants to rebuild her career, she will need to face three challenges head-on.

The WTA investigation report clearly states that Vukkov's actions have posed a threat to the safety of the players. Not only could the continued cooperation result in a harsher ban, but the high-pressure training would also exacerbate Rybakina's physical and mental attrition. In 2024, she frequently withdrew due to injury, and in 2025, she stopped in the round of 16 at the Australian Open, which has exposed the double overdraft of physical and mental problems. Only a definitive end to this relationship can make room for a rebuilding of the scientific training system.

Ivanisevic's departure warning: Top coaches can't stand the chaos of team decision-making. Rybakina needs to hire an independent coach with Grand Slam experience, as well as a support team that includes sports science experts and psychological counsellors. She has proven herself in previous battles with the likes of Swiatek and Sabalenka, but her consistency and adaptability rely on systematic teamwork.

Rybakina's introverted personality makes her accustomed to hiding her emotions, but long-term repression can exacerbate psychological problems. The WTA report mentions that Vukov has repeatedly pushed her to the point of breaking down and crying, and that this trauma requires professional psychological intervention. In addition, she needs to learn to communicate with the media to avoid falling into the quagmire of public opinion of "victim guilt" for defending Vukov.

Rybakina's case illustrates the pervasiveness of power asymmetries in professional sports. Players' emotional attachment to coaches and their path to success often make them choose to remain silent when they are abused. The WTA's decisive ban on Vukov shows its determination to protect the rights and interests of players, but institutional supervision still needs to be strengthened - such as mandatory public investigation reports and the establishment of an anonymous reporting mechanism. For Rybakina, the Indian Wells fiasco may have been a wake-up call. If she can use this defeat as an opportunity to sever her bond with Vukov, her talent will still be enough to support a return to the top. On the other hand, if you continue to indulge in "toxic relationships", you may end up on the road to ruin in your career.

As one commentator put it: "The key to salvation is always in her own hands." Breaking through bottlenecks requires not only technology, but also the courage to face pain. Rybakina's future will depend on whether she can make the most difficult but correct choice in the game of professional rationality and emotional entanglement.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Xiaodi)