World number six Elena Rybakina says her former coach Stefano Vukov "never mistreated me" after he was provisionally suspended by the WTA while an investigation into his behaviour towards the player continues.
Earlier this week, the 25-year-old 2022 Wimbledon champion from Kazakhstan said Vukov, who was part of her team when she won the title, was re-joining her team.
But the WTA has told BBC Sport the 37-year-old Croat is currently banned after allegedly breaching the WTA's Code of Conduct.
Vukov, who began coaching Rybakina when she was a teenager, denies any wrongdoing.