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Elena Rybakina Reveals Truth Behind Breakup with Goran Ivanisevic
Elena Rybakina has spoken out about her short-lived relationship with Goran Ivanisevic, admitting she is “not such an easy player” to deal with.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion hired Ivanisevic at the close of the 2024 season, following her divorce from long-time coach Stefano Vukov in August.
Rybakina announced on January 1 that Vukov would rejoin her coaching team for the 2025 season.
The WTA suspended Vukov, Rybakina’s coach from 2019 to 2024, following an examination into a breach of their code of conduct, according to The Athletic.
Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon champion and world No 2, was “blindsided” by Vukov’s shock return, according to the report.
Vukov did not receive accreditation for Australian Open, with Tennis Australia upholding the WTA’s provisional suspension. The WTA is yet to announce the outcome of the investigation.
Ivanisevic coached Rybakina at the Australian Open, where the 25-year-old reached the fourth round, losing to eventual champion Madison Keys.
Following the Melbourne Grand Slam, Ivanisevic announced he would no longer be coaching Rybakina.
“After our trial period that finished with Australian Open, I wish Elena and her team best of luck moving forward,” the Croatian wrote on social media.
Rybakina is now working with Italian coach David Sanguinetti in the Abu Dhabi Open, despite the ongoing Vukov issue.
The world No 5 is the top seed and defending champion at the WTA 500 tournament.
Prior to her campaign in the United Arab Emirates, Rybakina addressed the end of her partnership with Ivanisevic.
“We just sat down, we talked, and we decided to go our separate ways. But I think I learned a lot and it’s not easy to find a good collaboration,” the Kazakh told AFP.
“It of course takes time and everything, but that was our decision. We’ll see how this year goes for me. I’m also not such an easy player maybe like some people think, ‘Oh it’s easy with her’, or something, but it’s not really like this.
“I think every person is different and there is no one who is perfect. I can be sometimes stubborn on the court, stubborn on some things, that’s at least my honest opinion.”
Rybakina also indicated that she is still in frequent communication with Vukov, highlighting the importance of the Croatian coach in her professional career.
“He’s an important person in my career. We started when I was like 200 [in the WTA Rankings],” she explained. “So it’s a lot of things, on the court, outside of the court, he’s helping out with.
“I feel like of course it’s not ideal that he cannot be on the practice courts but at the same time we are finding a way also with help of Davide, his opinion. I hope it’s going to work out. We have a good team in the end of the day.”
