Elena Rybakina has hired Goran Ivanisevic for the 2025 season as the Kazakh aims to end the season strong at the WTA Finals.
The Kazakh has had a turbulent second half of the season as she hasn’t played a tournament since withdrawing from the US Open.
Furthermore just before the US Open Rybakina split up with coach Stefano Vukov and ahead of the WTA Finals Rybakina aimed to clear up some rumours about the duo’s split, “I know that a lot of I guess rumors going on. But honestly we just part ways with Stefano,” Rybakina was quoted by tennishead as saying.
“I think we had incredible results over five years. We achieved a lot. I started with him when I was 200. I think it’s just now next chapter of my career. I want to make next step.”
After reflecting on the past, Rybakina looked towards the future and announced that former Grand Slam champion Goran Ivanisevic would be her new coach next season.
Ivanisevic hasn’t been involved in tennis since splitting up with Novak Djokovic in March and the Kazakh explained why she chose the Croatian, “I’m really looking forward to this partnership,” Rybakina admitted.
“I think he’s a great champion and he has so much experience, and I’m looking forward to starting. For me, it was important to get better, and with the help of the agents, we connected and we just decided to start working. Of course, it’s a big change, but I think it’s going to be a good change.”
Before Rybakina can think about next season, the Kazakh still has to play the WTA Finals and takes on Jasmine Paolini in her opening match on Saturday with their head-to-head tied at 2-2.
