Rybakina Happy To Have Controversial Coach Back As She Beats Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina has described herself arsenic satisfied by nan return of her coach Stefano Vukov arsenic she produced an imperious capacity astatine nan Cincinnati Open, dismantling Aryna Sabalenka, nan world No 1 and defending champion, 6-1, 6-4 to scope nan semi-finals.

Rybakina, nan 2022 Wimbledon champion, put together a capacity of nan highest value connected Friday day arsenic she served efficiently and wholly overpowered 1 of nan astir destructive shotmakers successful nan world.

Until nan past fewer weeks, Vukov had been banned from coaching astatine WTA tournaments and nan expansive slam events aft nan WTA recovered that he had engaged successful abusive behaviour towards Rybakina. His suspension was lifted upon appeal, allowing him to train pinch and support her onsite passim nan past 2 weeks successful Cincinnati. “It’s awesome that he’s present successful nan box, finally, truthful it’s a bully thing,” she said.

Since Vukov’s suspension, Rybakina had many times expressed her frustration astir nan prohibition and she was captious of nan WTA. After he was provisionally suspended successful January pending nan result of its investigation, Rybakina said: “I don’t work together pinch a batch of things what nan WTA do successful nan consciousness of my narration pinch Stefano. As I said before, I person ne'er made immoderate complaints aliases immoderate of these things. I ever said that he ne'er mistreated me.”

Although he was banned from receiving credentials to tournaments, Vukov continued to train pinch Rybakina distant from events. She has been moving pinch nan Italian erstwhile subordinate Davide Sanguinetti since February. This week, Vukov and Sanguinetti person been providing her pinch proposal successful training and matches.

During her post-match property conference, Rybakina opted not to speak successful extent astir her activity pinch Vukov. Asked astir really adjuvant it has been to person him onsite again, she responded curtly: “It’s ever a thief erstwhile nan full squad is present pinch me.”

Elena Rybakina talks to coach Stefano Vukov successful nan stands while playing against Aryna Sabalenka astatine nan Cincinnati Open. Photograph: Robert Prange/Getty Images

Another important lucifer awaits Rybakina arsenic she rekindles her rivalry pinch nan 3rd seed Iga Swiatek, who remains successful fantabulous shape since her Wimbledon triumph and defeated nan 28th seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-4 to beforehand into nan semi-finals.

Later connected Friday, nan men’s 2nd seed Carlos Alcaraz held patient against a value capacity from Andrey Rublev, nan 11th seed, arsenic he narrowly reached nan semi-final pinch a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win.

“Today I maintained nan affirmative thoughts each nan clip moreover though I mislaid attraction a fewer times successful nan lucifer successful nan 2nd set,” said Alcaraz. “That crippled serving that he collapsed me, I mislaid a fewer points that playing successful matches against personification for illustration Andrey, erstwhile you suffer nan attraction for 2 aliases 3 points, it costs you nan group aliases almost nan match.”

Although Alcaraz has not been astatine his champion this week successful Cincinnati, he continues to show his increasing maturity successful nan decisive moments. Here, Alcaraz initially appeared to upwind nan large wind arsenic he collapsed service for a 5-3 third-set lead but he missed a slew of first serves arsenic he attempted to service retired nan lucifer and quickly recovered himself backmost astatine 5-5. Despite missing his first opportunity, Alcaraz maintained his composure and closed retired nan victory.

Alcaraz will look either Ben Shelton aliases Alexander Zverev successful nan semi-finals. He and Jannik Sinner are again 1 information distant from facing each different successful what would beryllium their 4th consecutive last against each other.