Elena Rybakina's childhood coach, Evgenia Kulinovskaya, reveals a fascinating insight into her former student's journey to tennis stardom. When Rybakina began her professional career, her new coach, Stefano Vukov, initially expressed concerns about her frequent visits to her childhood coach. But here's the intriguing part: Vukov's fears were not unfounded. Kulinovskaya explains that Vukov was worried someone might try to poach Rybakina, given her impressive rise in the rankings. However, this potential conflict of interest was resolved amicably. After Kulinovskaya and Vukov met, the Croatian coach understood that Kulinovskaya's role was to support Rybakina's growth, not to interfere. In fact, Kulinovskaya advised Rybakina to continue working with Vukov, as their partnership was yielding remarkable results. This led to Rybakina's remarkable achievements, including two Grand Slam victories, a WTA Finals title, and a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world. This story highlights the importance of open communication and mutual respect between coaches and athletes, even when personal relationships are involved.
