Stefano Vukov, the former coach of world No. 6 Elena Rybakina, won’t be allowed access to the 2025 Australian Open after the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced it was investigating him for a possible breach of the tour’s code of conduct.

Rybakina recently hired Goran Ivanisevic, Novak Djokovic’s former coach, for 2025 after she and Vukov parted ways in August. However, in an Instagram story on January 1, she announced that Vukov would be returning to her team.

However, the provisional ban means he would not be granted access to practice courts or to Rybakina’s player box at Melbourne Park, or any other WTA event.

According to The Athletic, the WTA launched the investigation last year after complaints were made about Vukov’s conduct, which had been described as intense and harsh by people in the sport.

Vukov, who coached Rybakina to her 2022 Wimbledon title, issued a statement to The Athletic during his flight from Dubai to Australia on Thursday. “Definitely never abused anyone,” it read.

The WTA confirmed the suspension in a statement to this masthead.

“The WTA can confirm that Stefano Vukov is currently under a provisional suspension pending an independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA code of conduct,” the statement read.

“As part of the provisional suspension, Mr Vukov is not eligible to obtain a WTA credential at this time. While the WTA does not typically comment on active investigations, we believe it is necessary to clarify this matter due to recent public statements that misrepresent the situation.