Elena Rybakina Teams Up with Goran Ivanisevic as Her New Coach for 2025 Season
“I’m really looking forward to this partnership. I think he’s a great champion and he has so much experience,” Rybakina expressed, highlighting her optimism about working with Ivanisevic. This move comes after Rybakina's split with former coach Stefano Vukov, which she announced just before the U.S. Open.
Elena Rybakina, currently ranked No. 5 in the world, has announced her partnership with Goran Ivanisevic, the former coach of Novak Djokovic, as she heads into the 2025 tennis season. Rybakina made the announcement during a press conference at the WTA Tour Finals taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she is set to compete in the group stages against top players, including world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Excitement for the New Partnership
“I’m really looking forward to this partnership. I think he’s a great champion and he has so much experience,” Rybakina expressed, highlighting her optimism about working with Ivanisevic. This move comes after Rybakina's split with former coach Stefano Vukov, which she announced just before the U.S. Open.
Ivanisevic's Coaching Background
Ivanisevic has an impressive coaching pedigree, most notably having guided Djokovic during a period that included 12 Grand Slam titles over six seasons. The two parted ways in March 2024, and now Ivanisevic will join Rybakina’s team following the conclusion of the WTA Tour Finals. His past successes include winning Wimbledon in 2001 and coaching Marin Cilic to victory at the 2014 U.S. Open.
Rybakina's Recent Season
Despite a season plagued by injuries and health issues, Rybakina had a strong start, securing three titles and reaching two finals within the first four months of the year. She managed to accumulate enough points to qualify for the prestigious season-ending event, showcasing her resilience. However, her performances in the Grand Slam tournaments were mixed; notably, she suffered a heartbreaking defeat in a third-set tiebreak at the Australian Open against Anna Blinkova, and was eliminated by Jasmine Paolini in the French Open quarterfinals. At Wimbledon, after winning early rounds, she succumbed to Barbora Krejcikova in the semifinals.
Coaching Changes in Women’s Tennis
Rybakina is part of a wave of coaching changes in women’s tennis this season. World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has brought on Wim Fissette after parting with Tomas Wiktorowski, while Coco Gauff has replaced Brad Gilbert with Matt Daly. Former Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has also changed her coaching setup, bringing in Patrick Mouratoglou after a stint with Fissette.
As Rybakina embarks on this new chapter with Ivanisevic, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how their collaboration unfolds in the upcoming season.
