Elena Rybakina Is “Pretty Happy” With Her New Coaching Team After a Turbulent Few Months on Tour

Elena Rybakina is making a strong preparation for the French Open after reaching the semifinals of the Strasbourg Open.

Elena Rybakina Is “Pretty Happy” With Her New Coaching Team After a Turbulent Few Months on Tour

Elena Rybakina (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

Elena Rybakina is currently competing at the Strasbourg Open in preparation for the French Open, which starts next week. The Kazakhstani has struggled on the court this season due to the coaching situation she began the year with. But after solving it, she’s excited to now move forward with her game.

Rybakina has yet to win a title this season and has just been to two semi-finals. She also fell out of the top 10 after skipping the Stuttgart Open while being the defending champion. However, the 25-year-old’s struggles began early this season as she made headlines with her off the court issues.

Rybakina had been one of the consistent players in the WTA tour and had racked up five tour-level titles since claiming the 2022 Wimbledon Championship. She broke into the Top 10 for the first time in January 2023. All this was achieved under the tutelage of her former coach Stefano Vukov.

However, things began to unravel in their partnership and they parted ways after the 2024 US Open. In November, Rybakina then brought in Goran Ivanisevic, but the collaboration only lasted two months, during which time she re-hired Vukov ahead of the 2025 Australian Open. That led to an investigation into their partnership.

The WTA led a code of conduct investigation, which led to Vukov’s 12-month suspension. Rybakina now works with new coach Aldo Chiari at the Strasbourg Open. After her opening match win, she revealed that she is happy with the success that she has had with her new team and that she’s now in the right direction.

I am happy with the team I have now. I am happy with the tennis coach, fitness also, he is new. So, for now, I think we are doing a good job. Of course, it takes time, not everything comes straight away in the matches, but I think we are in the right direction, and I am pretty happy with the setup I have.

Rybakina will hope to get back to form in Strasbourg. Before the tournament, she had not reached any quarter-finals on clay. In fact, she has won just two matches on clay this season and has often lost against top players.

Elena Rybakina into her third semi-finals of the season at the Strasbourg Open

Elena Rybakina delivered a clinical performance to beat Magda Linette in the quarter-finals of the Strasbourg Open. The 2020 champion did not drop a serve in the match, during which she fired 29 winners and won 82 percent of her serve points. Rybakina always picked the perfect moment to strike her opponent which worked perfectly.

Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina (Image via X/#AusOpen)

She earned a 7-5, 6-3 win in an hour and 40 minutes. The victory now sees her advance to her third semi-final of the season. She revealed after the win that her aim is to improve physically and mentally ahead of the French Open.

I feel good on the court. There is still a lot to improve, but physically and mentally, I’m happy to play tournaments. I think it’s getting better and better. Hopefully, I can play more here & perform well at the French Open.

Rybakina will face Beatriz Haddad Maia in the semi-finals. The latter earned a three-set win over Emma Navarro to reach this stage of the Strasbourg Open.

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