Shock Coaching Shake-Up: Rybakina Dumps Ivanisevic, Vukov Banned – Meet Her New Coach!
In a series of unexpected coaching developments, Wimbledon 2022 champion Elena Rybakina has made significant changes to her coaching team. In December 2024, Rybakina parted ways with her long-time coach, Stefano Vukov, and subsequently appointed Goran Ivanisevic, former coach of Novak Djokovic, as her new mentor.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) provisionally suspended Vukov in January 2025, pending an investigation into potential breaches of the tour’s code of conduct. Despite their prior separation, Rybakina publicly defended Vukov, expressing her disagreement with the WTA’s decision and emphasizing that she had not filed any complaints against him.
Amid these developments, Rybakina announced that Vukov would rejoin her coaching team for the 2025 season, alongside Ivanisevic. This decision was made despite Vukov’s suspension, indicating Rybakina’s continued trust in his coaching abilities.
These coaching changes come after a challenging 2024 season for Rybakina, marked by injuries and illnesses that limited her participation in tournaments post-Wimbledon. As she prepares for the upcoming Australian Open, Rybakina aims to leverage the combined expertise of Ivanisevic and Vukov to navigate the season ahead.
