Elena Rybakina, the 25-year-old Kazakhstani tennis star and 2022 Wimbledon champion, has taken a significant step to stabilize her team by hiring Italian fitness coach Aldo Chiari in April 2025. The move comes on the heels of a turbulent period marked by the departure of her long-time fitness trainer Azuz Simcich and a highly publicized coaching saga involving former coach Stefano Vukov and brief collaborator Goran Ivanisevic. As Rybakina navigates a challenging 2025 season, Chiari’s addition to a team that includes coach Davide Sanguinetti and physiotherapist Irina Duell signals her determination to regain her top form and compete at the highest level.
Rybakina’s 2025 season has been overshadowed by off-court drama, particularly surrounding her coaching arrangements. After parting ways with Vukov in August 2024, she enlisted Ivanisevic, the former coach of Novak Djokovic, in November 2024. “Really looking forward to this partnership. I think he’s great champion and he has so much experience,” Rybakina said at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, expressing optimism about Ivanisevic’s guidance. However, her surprise announcement on January 1, 2025, that Vukov would return to her team blindsided Ivanisevic and prompted his exit after the Australian Open, where Rybakina reached the fourth round before losing to Madison Keys. “After our trial period that finished with Australian Open, I wish Elena and her team best of luck moving forward,” Ivanisevic said, later describing the situation as a “sad and strange story.”
The Vukov controversy intensified when the WTA confirmed a one-year suspension in February 2025, citing violations of their code of conduct, including verbal abuse toward Rybakina. Despite the ban, Rybakina defended Vukov, stating, “I’m just disappointed with the situation and how the process went.” She also expressed frustration with the WTA’s handling, saying, “I think that safeguarding is important but the situation with us was not handled well. At the end of the day, I think you need to listen to the player.” Her loyalty to Vukov, with whom she achieved a career-high No. 3 ranking and her Wimbledon title, has sparked debate, with fans and analysts questioning whether it could jeopardize her career.
Amid this upheaval, Simcich’s departure in February 2025 added to the instability. “After an incredible journey alongside Elena, it’s time to move on,” Simcich wrote on Instagram, thanking Rybakina for their shared experiences since 2022. His exit followed Rybakina’s semi-final runs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but also a shocking first-round loss to Ashlyn Krueger at the Miami Open, raising concerns about her consistency. Fans voiced worries about a “toxic environment,” with one noting, “They don’t want to work in a toxic environment, Ivanisevic was right,” referencing the Croatian’s discomfort with Vukov’s return.
Rybakina’s response was to bring in Sanguinetti, a former ATP professional who coached Dinara Safina, in February 2025. “We just did one week of preparation with him,” Rybakina said in Abu Dhabi, where she reached the semi-finals. Sanguinetti, who expressed admiration for Rybakina’s game, stated, “Elena is a player I admire; I have always been fascinated by her game. In my opinion, she should have won more, especially at the Grand Slam level.” His willingness to communicate with Vukov, despite the suspension, has kept the controversial coach’s influence in the background, with Vukov spotted at practice sessions during the Miami Open.
Chiari’s hiring, announced via Rybakina’s Instagram story, marks a fresh chapter. A seasoned fitness coach, Chiari joins a restructured team aiming to help Rybakina rebound from a season without a final appearance. Her withdrawal from the Stuttgart Open, where she was the defending champion, cost her a top-10 ranking spot, but her focus on the upcoming clay season, including Madrid and Rome, suggests a strategic reset. “I’m proud that I can maintain this level,” Rybakina had said in 2023, reflecting on her team’s efforts despite demanding schedules. Chiari’s expertise will be crucial in enhancing her physical conditioning to withstand the grueling clay court grind.
Rybakina’s resilience remains her hallmark. Despite a 2024 season marred by injuries and a 2025 start clouded by controversy, her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game make her a perennial threat. With Sanguinetti providing tactical guidance, Duell managing her physical health, and Chiari boosting her fitness, Rybakina is rebuilding a support system to chase her ninth WTA title and a second Grand Slam. As she prepares for the French Open, where she reached the quarterfinals in 2021, the tennis world watches to see if this new team can help her move past the coaching saga and reclaim her place among the elite.