Elena Rybakina announce her departure

Elena Rybakina will work with Novak Djokovic’s ex-coach and former world No 2 Goran Ivanisevic from the start of the 2025 season.

World No 5 Rybakina has been without a coach since the summer when she unexpectedly split with Stefano Vukov, her coach of five years.

Under the guidance of Vukov, the Kazakh won Wimbledon in 2022, reached the 2023 Australian Open final, and climbed to a career-high ranking of world No 3 last season.

However, her partnership with Vukov regularly attracted criticism, and speculation has lingered over the manner of their surprise split in recent months.

However, speaking in Riyadh, she stated the pair had parted on good terms.

She said: “I know that a lot of I guess rumors going on. But honestly we just parted ways with Stefano.

“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.”

Rybakina has not played since withdrawing midway through the US Open and has struggled with repeated injury and illness struggles across 2024, though will be in WTA Finals action this week.

It is thought that the 25-year-old will be working with Kazakh national coach Lovro Zovko in Riyadh, though it has now been confirmed that Ivanisevic will join her team ahead of 2025.

Much like Rybakina, Ivanisevic is a former Wimbledon champion, winning the men’s singles title in 2001 after three previous final losses.

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Since his retirement, the 53-year-old has embarked on a hugely successful coaching career.