Elena Rybakina’s 2024 season has been nothing short of turbulent. What began as a year of promise and impressive performances soon became a challenging journey marked by injury setbacks, illness, and significant changes in her coaching team. Known for her fierce groundstrokes and powerful serve, Rybakina was a force to be reckoned with at the start of the season. However, the challenges she faced led to disruptions in her training and competition schedule, and in the midst of it all, she made the high-profile decision to part ways with her coach, Stefano Vukov. This split followed reports of a strained player-coach relationship, with speculations about Vukov’s treatment of Rybakina circulating in the media.
Now, the Kazakh tennis star has officially found a new mentor, none other than Goran Ivanisevic. A celebrated former Wimbledon champion and a highly regarded coach, Ivanisevic is known for his six-year coaching stint with Novak Djokovic. His partnership with Djokovic yielded remarkable success, including multiple Grand Slam victories and ATP titles. Ivanisevic’s tactical acumen and his experience in navigating high-stakes matches make him a prime choice to help Rybakina elevate her game. After a brief break from coaching following his separation from Djokovic in mid-2024, Ivanisevic is now set to return to the court to mentor one of the WTA’s most promising players.
The Rybakina-Ivanisevic pairing marks an exciting new chapter, bringing together a young, rising talent with a seasoned coach who understands the demands of top-tier competition. Ivanisevic’s departure from Djokovic’s team was a surprise, as the duo had been incredibly successful together. But Djokovic, seeking a fresh perspective after some early-season setbacks, decided to explore new coaching options. In the meantime, several members of Djokovic’s training staff, including his physios and fitness experts, have found roles with other top players, with Jannik Sinner among the most notable beneficiaries.
Ivanisevic’s coaching expertise and winning track record have made him one of the most sought-after coaches on the circuit, and his pairing with Rybakina signals a strategic move to bring stability and expertise to her camp. Ivanisevic is not the only coach this season to step outside national circles; Iga Swiatek also recently hired Wim Fissette, marking a trend of top players turning to international coaches to gain a competitive edge. For Rybakina, who has faced criticism and controversy surrounding her previous coach, Ivanisevic’s arrival could mark a new era, potentially offering the guidance and structure she needs to reach new heights in her career.
Rybakina’s split with Stefano Vukov came amid widespread reports about the dynamics of their professional relationship. Media outlets have speculated that Rybakina faced a challenging environment under Vukov’s coaching, with unconfirmed claims about an abusive coaching style. While Rybakina has not publicly commented on these reports, her departure from Vukov’s team appeared to be a decisive step away from an arrangement that, for various reasons, was no longer conducive to her performance. Under Ivanisevic, she now has the chance to build a positive, constructive partnership that could allow her to develop her game without the strain that allegedly marred her time with Vukov.
This new partnership comes as Rybakina gears up for one of the year’s biggest events: the WTA Finals. She has been training in Riyadh in preparation for the tournament, where the world’s top players will face off. However, Ivanisevic won’t officially begin his coaching duties until the off-season, allowing Rybakina to complete the tournament without the pressure of integrating a new coaching style on short notice. Instead, this waiting period allows both Rybakina and Ivanisevic time to strategize and establish goals, aligning their visions before the start of the new season.
The timing of this change could prove advantageous for Rybakina, as she now has the opportunity to recalibrate with the support of a coach who has firsthand experience guiding top players to victory. Ivanisevic, a towering figure in the sport, brings both technical and strategic insights that could help Rybakina maximize her strengths, particularly her serve and aggressive baseline play. Known for his powerful serve and fearless approach on the court, Ivanisevic has a coaching philosophy rooted in both discipline and adaptability—qualities that could be instrumental in refining Rybakina’s game as she navigates the challenges of the WTA Tour.
With Ivanisevic on board, Rybakina has a unique opportunity to address some of the weaknesses that have held her back this season. In addition to physical hurdles, she has faced the mental challenges that come with high expectations and the pressure to perform consistently at the top. Ivanisevic’s experience as a former Grand Slam champion could provide invaluable insights for handling these pressures, equipping Rybakina with tools to improve her focus, resilience, and mental toughness in critical matches.
The move also brings Rybakina into a group of top players who have benefited from working with seasoned international coaches. Ivanisevic’s previous success with Djokovic and his deep understanding of high-performance tennis are likely to have a profound impact on Rybakina’s approach to training, match preparation, and tournament play. His knowledge of the game’s mental aspects, combined with his tactical understanding, could be exactly what Rybakina needs to return to the dominant form she showed earlier this year.
While the Rybakina-Ivanisevic partnership is still in its early days, it holds promise for the future. For Rybakina, it represents not only a chance to strengthen her game but also an opportunity to bring stability to her coaching situation after the challenges with Vukov. With her physical recovery on track and a new coach set to join her camp, Rybakina appears ready to put the setbacks of 2024 behind her. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this partnership unfolds, as both Rybakina and Ivanisevic embark on a journey to achieve new milestones in her career.
As the WTA Finals approach, Rybakina will no doubt draw on the momentum of her recent training in Riyadh and the promise of fresh guidance under Ivanisevic. If this pairing proves successful, it could propel her back to the top of the game, positioning her as a major contender in the upcoming season. The collaboration of a rising star with a legendary coach could indeed be the formula that helps Rybakina fulfill her immense potential, adding new chapters to her already promising career and setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.