Elena Rybakina sensationally parts ways with Goran Ivanisevic after resuming partnership with ‘suspended’ coach Stefano Vukov
Goran Ivanisevic has parted ways with World No.7 Elena Rybakina after she rehired controversial coach Stefano Vukov.
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Goran Ivanisevic, Stefano Vukov, Elena Rybakina (Images via X)
Goran Ivanisevic announced via social media on Tuesday (January 21) that he will no longer be coaching Elena Rybakina. His announcement came following Rybakina’s fourth-round exit at the Australian Open to Madison Keys.
Ivanisevic joined Rybakina’s team last year and worked with her for just a couple of tournaments, the United Cup and the Australian Open. He quit Rybakina’s camp following her decision to rehire Stefano Vukov, the Croatian coach who is provisionally suspended by the WTA for breach of code.
After our trial period that finished with Australian Open, I wish Elena and her team the best of luck moving forward.
Goran Ivanisevic wrote on Instagram story
Goran Ivanisevic stories.
— Sebastien G. (@sebsharfam2) January 21, 2025
The trial ended after AO.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/CyU0eLnIp3
It was Ivanisevic’s first coaching stint with a WTA player. Before him, he coached several Grand Slam champions, including Novak Djokovic who lifted 12 of his 24 Majors under him. Ivanisevic joined Rybakina’s team following his split with Djokovic in March last year.
As per a report published by the The Athletic, Ivanisevic found coaching the 25-year-old in the midst of the WTA investigation challenging. Rybakina parted ways with Vukov just before the 2024 US Open following allegations that he was extremely rough on her, used bad words, and even subjected Rybakina to psychological pressure.
Vukov denied abusing Rybakina and even the tennis player on numerous occasions defended the coach. They had ended their partnership of five years during which she became a World No. 3 player and clinched the 2022 Wimbledon.
Elena Rybakina was uncertain about her partnership with Goran Ivanisevic
Reports claimed that Goran Ivanisevic had no idea that Rybakina would be working with Stefano Vukov again. As per the The Athletic, Ivanisevic would have quit Elena Rybakina‘s team even before the Australian Open.
But as Vukov is still suspended, the Kazakh ace would have been playing the Australian Open without a coach had Ivanisevic departed. So she pleaded with Ivanisevic in an emotional meeting to stay in her team for the Melbourne Slam.
Ivanisevic’s latest announcement came just a day after Rybakina said at the press conference that she was uncertain about whether she and Ivanisevic would continue their partnership.
Well, we still need to talk of course. We just tried the pre-season and these couple of tournaments. It was something we were just getting used to each other. We’ll definitely talk about how the next schedule is going to look like.
Elena Rybakina had said
She also confirmed that she spoke with Vukov before and during matches in the tournament. Although he was barred from coaching, he was in Melbourne during her campaign.
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Gouri Das
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