After a period of rest and reflection, Goran Ivanisevic is embarking on a new professional venture as he joins forces with Kazakhstan’s top tennis star, Elena Rybakina. This partnership aims to rejuvenate the career of the 2022 Wimbledon champion, who has faced a challenging stretch of injuries and inconsistent performances in recent months. Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon winner and long-time coach of Novak Djokovic, brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to Rybakina’s camp as she looks to regain her footing in the highly competitive world of women’s tennis.
In an insightful interview with *Tennis Majors*, Ivanisevic shared the factors that drew him to this new role. “There were other offers, but I think I chose the right one for me, for Elena’s style of play and potential, but also for her personality,” said the Croatian coach. “Elena is calm, and I can’t wait to start. I think it will be great.” This enthusiasm is rooted not only in Rybakina’s impressive talent but also in her demeanor, which Ivanisevic believes will make for a productive working relationship. He noted that his connection to Rybakina was facilitated by her fitness coach, Zule, a mutual acquaintance with whom Ivanisevic had collaborated during his time coaching Tomas Berdych.
On the technical side, Ivanisevic expressed admiration for Rybakina’s game, highlighting her strong serve, height, and aggressive playing style—traits that echo his own as a player. “Game-wise, she has a great serve, she is tall, she hits hard and plays aggressively; she won Wimbledon just like me. I feel like I can teach her something,” he stated. Though Rybakina is already ranked fifth in the world, Ivanisevic is confident that she can achieve even greater success. “I think she can win more Slams, that’s for sure.”
To achieve these goals, Ivanisevic emphasized the importance of building a strong personal and professional connection with Rybakina. “First of all, we need to get to know each other better. I won’t go into too much detail, but she has room for improvement in every aspect of her game. She can achieve better results,” he remarked. Ivanisevic is fully aware that some may view this collaboration as surprising, particularly given his storied tenure with Djokovic. “Many people found it strange and were surprised by our collaboration, but not me. I needed a turnaround after Novak. With Novak, I won everything, so I’m looking forward to this new challenge.” For Ivanisevic, working in women’s tennis is a new frontier, but one he approaches with an open mind and high expectations.
Rybakina’s struggles with injuries have been a major hurdle, and Ivanisevic is determined to help address these issues. “I’m sure there is a reason behind it,” he commented on her physical setbacks. “When I dive deeper into the whole process, then I will know more. But you know what they say: To hell with the coach who can’t succeed on both tours!” This statement encapsulates Ivanisevic’s readiness to take on the challenge, drawing on his extensive coaching experience and willingness to adapt.
Reflecting on the current landscape of women’s tennis, Ivanisevic praised the competitive nature of the WTA Tour. “The top four or five players have been there for a long time, some younger ones are emerging, but the top 10 has been more or less the same for a while,” he observed. While acknowledging that there are differences between the men’s and women’s tours, he ultimately believes in the universality of tennis skills, whether it’s a forehand, backhand, or serve. “At the end of the day, I think it’s the same, even though everyone tells me the WTA Tour is completely different. However, I will see my old gang, as most of the events are in the same cities for both tours.”
Elena Rybakina’s recent absence from the tour since the US Open, compounded by her split from long-time coach Stefano Vukov, marks a pivotal moment in her career. Her return at the WTA Finals in Riyadh saw mixed results, with a win over Aryna Sabalenka followed by losses to Jasmine Paolini and Qinwen Zheng. Despite the challenges, Rybakina is optimistic about her future under Ivanisevic’s guidance. During the media day for the WTA Finals, held at the King Saud University Indoor Arena in Riyadh, she officially announced their partnership. Although Ivanisevic was not present with her in Riyadh, their collaboration is set to begin during the winter preparation for the 2025 season.
“I can announce that my new coach will be Goran Ivanisevic. He is a great champion; he has a lot of experience. I can’t wait to start,” Rybakina shared. “For me, it was important to improve. We got in touch thanks to the help of the agents, and we decided to start working together. I certainly wanted to work with him, and I’m sure he wanted it too since his response was positive.” The excitement and determination in her words highlight her commitment to this new chapter in her career. “I worked with the same coach for a long time; now I want to learn with Goran. I’m really happy. Now we’ll see what we can do together.”
As the tennis world looks on, the partnership between Ivanisevic and Rybakina carries high hopes. Both bring a wealth of experience and ambition, setting the stage for a potentially transformative phase in Rybakina’s career. The challenges may be steep, but with Ivanisevic’s proven expertise and Rybakina’s talent and drive, this collaboration promises to be one of the most compelling storylines to follow in the coming seasons.