Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and current world No. 10, is charging into the 2025 clay season with renewed vigor, announcing the addition of renowned strength and conditioning coach Aldo Chiari to her team. The Kazakhstani star shared the news via Instagram, posting a vibrant photo from the practice courts in Brisbane with the caption, “Welcome to the team 🙌 💪.” This strategic hire comes at a pivotal moment for Rybakina, who has navigated a turbulent coaching saga and a challenging start to the year, yet remains laser-focused on reclaiming her place among tennis’ elite.
Chiari, an Italian sports science expert with a B.Sc. in Sports Science and a Master’s in Clinical Posturology, brings over two decades of experience training professional and Olympic athletes. His résumé includes work with high-caliber players, promising to enhance Rybakina’s physical resilience—a critical factor given her injury-plagued 2024 season. The 25-year-old, who withdrew from double-digit tournaments last year due to bronchitis, back issues, and mental fatigue, is banking on Chiari’s expertise to fortify her game for the grueling clay and grass seasons ahead. “I can’t play all the tournaments,” Rybakina admitted during the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in Brisbane, where she opted to represent Kazakhstan over defending her Stuttgart title. “It’s nice to play for your country, so I’m happy to make this decision.”
Rybakina’s 2025 campaign has been a rollercoaster, marked by coaching upheavals and early exits. After parting ways with longtime coach Stefano Vukov in August 2024, she briefly teamed up with Goran Ivanisevic, the former Wimbledon champion and Novak Djokovic’s ex-coach. Their partnership, announced with enthusiasm—“I’m really looking forward to this partnership. I think he’s a great champion and he has so much experience,” Rybakina said at the 2024 WTA Finals—unraveled after a fourth-round loss to Madison Keys at the Australian Open. Ivanisevic, blindsided by Rybakina’s decision to reappoint Vukov despite his provisional WTA suspension, described the situation as “a bit of a sad and strange story.” The WTA’s subsequent one-year ban on Vukov for breaching the code of conduct, citing “abusive conduct,” further complicated matters, leaving Rybakina to defend her former mentor. “I have never made any complaints,” she insisted, expressing frustration with the WTA’s process. “I always said that he never mistreated me.”
Amid this turmoil, Rybakina turned to Italian coach Davide Sanguinetti, a former ATP player who joined her team in February 2025. “We have a good team in the end of the day,” she said in Abu Dhabi, where she defended her WTA 500 title. Sanguinetti, who has outlined ambitious goals, believes Rybakina’s potential remains untapped. “Elena is a player that I appreciate; her game has always fascinated me,” he told La Gazzetta. “Someone like her cannot settle for winning Wimbledon in 2022, and the goal is exactly that, to win another Grand Slam.” Rybakina echoed this ambition, stating, “My goals are to win Slams, definitely. And the main goal is to become world number one, one day… so hopefully next year.”
Chiari’s arrival replaces Azuz Simcich, Rybakina’s fitness coach since 2022, who parted ways in February 2025. Simcich, who worked with players like Tomas Berdych, announced his departure with gratitude: “After an incredible journey alongside Elena, it’s time to move on. I’m deeply grateful for the experiences, challenges, and unforgettable moments we shared.” His exit followed the Vukov controversy, which saw Rybakina’s team dynamics scrutinized, with some, like former world No. 7 Barbara Schett, alleging Vukov’s influence created “major ups and downs mentally” for the player.
As Rybakina prepares for the clay swing, her recent Billie Jean King Cup performance—helping Kazakhstan defeat Australia and Colombia—signals her competitive fire. Yet, a first-round loss to Ashlyn Krueger at the Miami Open underscores the work ahead. With Chiari’s conditioning expertise, Sanguinetti’s tactical guidance, and her own unrelenting drive, Rybakina is poised to turn challenges into triumphs. The tennis world watches eagerly to see if this revamped team can propel her to another Grand Slam glory.