Childhood Coach Shares Insights into Elena Rybakina's Rise

Evgenia Kulinovskaya's protective instincts and collaborative approach with Stefano Vukov contributed to Rybakina's tennis success

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:55am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a tennis match or competition, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form, conveying the complex and multifaceted nature of elite athlete development.A cubist interpretation of the collaborative coaching dynamic that has propelled Elena Rybakina to the top of women's tennis.Kansas City Today

Elena Rybakina's rise to tennis stardom has been a journey filled with intriguing twists, and one particular episode involving her childhood coach, Evgenia Kulinovskaya, and her former coach, Stefano Vukov, is a fascinating tale of mentorship and professional dynamics. Kulinovskaya, a former Russian tennis star, nurtured Rybakina's talent from a young age, but when Rybakina began working with Vukov in 2019, Vukov had concerns about Kulinovskaya potentially luring her away. However, the two coaches eventually met and resolved the issue, with Kulinovskaya advising Rybakina to trust Vukov's methods despite their contrasting coaching styles. This collaborative approach has contributed to Rybakina's remarkable success, including two Grand Slam titles and a WTA Finals victory, solidifying her place as the current world No. 3.

Why it matters

This story highlights the importance of collaborative relationships between coaches in the competitive world of sports, and how such mentorship dynamics can impact an athlete's journey to success. It provides a unique perspective on the behind-the-scenes dynamics that often shape the careers of elite athletes.

The details

When Rybakina began working with Vukov in 2019, he had concerns that Kulinovskaya might attempt to lure Rybakina away from him, given her impressive results. Kulinovskaya, in an interview with Championat, shared that "At first, Stefano was against her visiting me. He was anxious that someone might want to take Rybakina away." However, Vukov and Kulinovskaya eventually met, and Vukov's worries dissipated as he realized Kulinovskaya had no such intentions. Kulinovskaya then advised Rybakina to trust Vukov's methods, despite their contrasting coaching styles, acknowledging Vukov's more temperamental nature but encouraging Rybakina to adapt, emphasizing the success they were achieving together.

  • Rybakina began working with Vukov in 2019.
  • Kulinovskaya shared her insights in a recent interview with Championat.

The players

Elena Rybakina

A professional tennis player who has won two Grand Slam titles and the WTA Finals, currently ranked world No. 3.

Evgenia Kulinovskaya

Rybakina's childhood coach, a former Russian tennis star who nurtured Rybakina's talent from a young age.

Stefano Vukov

Rybakina's former coach, who had concerns about Kulinovskaya potentially luring Rybakina away from him.

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What they’re saying

“At first, Stefano was against her visiting me. He was anxious that someone might want to take Rybakina away.”

— Evgenia Kulinovskaya, Rybakina's childhood coach

The takeaway

This story highlights the importance of collaborative relationships between coaches in the competitive world of sports, and how such mentorship dynamics can positively impact an athlete's journey to success. It provides a unique perspective on the behind-the-scenes dynamics that often shape the careers of elite athletes.