Chris Evert seconds Elena Rybakina as Kazakh hires Novak Djokovic's ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic in big career decision

Chris Evert has seconded Elena Rybakina's latest decision to bring Novak Djokovic's ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic on board starting the 2025 season. The Kazakh split with her longtime coach Stefan Vukov days before the 2024 US Open. The news sent shockwaves throughout the tennis fraternity.

Rybakina had been working with Vukova since 2019. The pair won eight titles together including the 2022 Wimbledon title and two WTA 1000 titles. Though they were high on success on the court, things were not so right between them according to Russian journalist Sofya Tartokova.

The vice president of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, Dias Doskaraev, had previously revealed that the 25-year-old was currently working with Lovro Zovko, a longtime member of her team, and was also being aided by Yuri Schukin, captain of the National team. Doskaraev also said the Kazakh tennis star was hunting for a new coach.

It has now been announced that Elena Rybakina will join Novak Djokovic's ex-coach, Goran Ivanisevic. The two men split up earlier in the year after a highly successful partnership that helped the Serb lift 12 Grand Slams. American tennis legend Chris Evert took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her approval of Rybakina's big career decision:

"Good guy, good choice 👏👏👏"

However, this new partnership will only begin during the offseason. Until then, Elena Rybakina will shift her focus toward the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh.

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Elena Rybakina will take on Jasmine Paolini to kick off her WTA Finals campaign

Elena Rybakina (R) and Aryna Sabalenka shaking hands after a practice session during the WTA Finals (Source: Getty Images)

Elena Rybakina is seeded fifth at the 2024 WTA Finals and will face fourth seed Jasmine Paolini in her opening match. This will be the fifth meeting between the two women. Both have won twice. Their most recent meeting came in the quarterfinals of the French Open where the Italian stunned the Kazakh in a topsy-turvy three-setter.

The two women are joined by top seed Aryna Sabalenka and seventh seed Zheng Qinwen. The second group features second seed Iga Swiatek, third seed Coco Gauff, sixth seed Jessica Pegula, and eighth seed Barbora Krejcikova.

Rybakina has suffered an injury-hampered season, missing out on tournaments such as the BNP Paribas and Italian Open where she was the defending champion. However, her triumphant performances in Brisbane, Stuttgart, and Abu Dhabi helped her clinch a spot in the year-end Finals.