Goran Ivanisevic breaks silence on his role after Stefano Vukov’s return to Elena Rybakina’s team

Goran Ivanisevic's role in the camp of Elena Rybakina has been in jeopardy after the re-appointment of Stefano Vukov.

Goran Ivanisevic breaks silence on his role after Stefano Vukov’s return to Elena Rybakina’s team

Elena Rybakina and Goran Ivanisevic (via X)

In an interview with Bounces, Goran Ivanisevic spoke about the Elena Rybakina–Stefano Vukov fiasco. Though Ivanisevic didn’t want to disclose much, his unhappiness at being stuck in an awkward third wheel on the bumpiest ride in tennis was quite evident. Ivanisevic’s hands appear clean in an otherwise ugly situation that has mucked up the start of the season for one of the top players in women’s tennis and for the WTA as an organization.

The former Croatian tennis player was Novak Djokovic‘s coach from 2019 to 2024, leading the Serb to 12 Grand Slam titles. Goran Ivanisevic parted ways with Djokovic in March 2024. In November 2024, Andy Murray, who had retired from tennis after the Paris Olympics, was announced as Djokovic’s new coach.

YouTube video

“I am, for the moment, here… What’s going to happen in a couple of days, I don’t know. But for the moment, I am here. Hopefully I will stay, and hopefully everything is going to be OK. But let’s take day by day.”

Goran Ivanisevic via Bounces

At the same time, Rybakina announced that she had hired Ivanisevic as her new coach, with the partnership set to begin with the 2025 WTA Tour. Rybakina was previously coached under Vukov in 2019. With Vukov as her first traveling coach, Rybakina rapidly improved. She ascended from just inside the top 200 of the WTA rankings into the top 30 in about a year. She also went on to win her maiden Grand Slam singles title, the Wimbledon in 2022. After the 2024 US Open, she parted ways with Vukov.

FS Video

Rybakina started off her 2025 season with the United Cup. She reached the semifinals, where she eventually faced defeat by Iga Swiatek. This was her first tournament together with the former Wimbledon champion as her coach. However, during the tournament, she announced that Vukov was rejoining her team. Rumors soon began to spread that Vukov, whose treatment of Rybakina had often unsettled viewers, had been banned by the WTA. At the time, the WTA did not respond to inquiries.

Elena Rybakina seen hitting at the Australian Open

Elena Rybakina, the world No. 6, was seen practicing with Emma Raducanu at Melbourne Park ahead of the Australian Open. Their session and Raducanu’s hits with France’s Caroline Garcia have sparked optimism about the British star’s readiness for the tournament.

Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina (via X)

Raducanu, 22, has faced a series of fitness issues recently. She withdrew from the ASB Classic in Auckland last week due to a back problem. Earlier in September, she suffered a foot injury and only returned to tennis in 2024 after undergoing three surgeries.

To overcome these challenges, Raducanu has brought in renowned fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura. His expertise is expected to help her address the recurring injuries that have troubled her since her breakthrough US Open win in 2021.

With the Australian Open starting on Monday, Raducanu’s training sessions at Melbourne Park have offered a glimmer of hope. Fans are eager to see if she will be fit and ready to make her mark in the season’s first Grand Slam.