Andy Roddick describes Elena Rybakina’s partnership with Stefano Vukov as ‘borderline toxic relationship’ as he backs Goran Ivanisevic to bring ‘levity’ to her camp
Andy Roddick thinks Goran Ivanisevic might bring levity into Elena Rybakina's camp after her split from Stefano Vukov.
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Elena Rybakina has hired Novak Djokovic's ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic (Images via X, BBC)
Andy Roddick liked the partnership between Elena Rybakina and Novak Djokovic‘s ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic. Rybakina, after working with Stefano Vukov for nearly five years, announced the split just a few days ahead of the WTA Finals.
Roddick, in an interview, said he was surprised upon learning that Rybakina hired Ivanisevic but backed her decision. In his latest podcast, he talked about the similarities between Djokovic and Rybakina’s games.
Roddick said both Djokovic and Rybakina are tall, have ‘massive serves’, and they also are good on grass. The former tennis player also thinks Ivanisevic will bring ‘levity’, which reportedly wasn’t the case when Vukov was her coach.
And most importantly, the credibility that Goran brings to the camp and also the levity that he might bring. The guy has a personality, where he is always in on the joke and coming off of this borderline toxic relationship of Rybakina’s with her last coach. The more I thought about it, the more I liked this hire.
Andy Roddick said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast
As per the rumors, Vukov used to hurl insults and bad words at Rybakina while coaching her. Reports also emerged about him being banned by the WTA.
Goran Ivanisevic backs Elena Rybakina to win more Grand Slam titles
Elena Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022. It’s her first and only Grand Slam title so far and her coach Goran Ivanisevic, who clinched his first Grand Slam title in 2001 at Wimbledon, thinks his advice would help her as he backed the World No.5 to win more majors in the future.
Game-wise, she has a big serve, a tall, strong hitter who plays aggressively. She won Wimbledon just like me. I feel I can teach her something. I mean, she is already No. 5 in the world, but I think she can win more Slams, that’s for sure.
Goran Ivanisevic told Tennis Majors
The WTA Finals was Elena Rybakina’s first tournament with Ivanisevic. She has lost both of her group-stage matches at the WTA Finals to Jasmine Paolini and Qinwen Zheng respectively, and is scheduled to lock horns with Aryna Sabalenka in her last match.
In Grand Slam tournaments this year, the 25-year-old reached the second round at the Australian Open and made it to the quarterfinals of the French Open. She then lost to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova in the semifinal at Wimbledon and withdrew from the US Open after winning the first round due to injury.
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Gouri Das
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