Elena Rybakina reveals whether she's been taught to smash rackets after hiring Novak Djokovic's ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic

Elena Rybakina's association with her new coach Goran Ivanisevic is underway and the duo have already recorded two wins together. Rybakina defeated Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in Kazakhstan's first tie at the 2025 United Cup. On Monday (December 30), she overcame Greece's Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-3 to help her side reach the quarterfinals.

The 25-year-old is playing her first season under Ivanisevic after having split with Stefano Vukov in mid-2024 apparently on bad terms. Interestingly, Ivanisevic came into Kazakh's team following his separation from the 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

Ivanisevic competed on the tour himself between 1988 and 2004 and was known for his emotional outbursts on the court. Much like Djokovic, he didn't shy away from breaking a racket or two whenever he felt like venting it out.

In that sense, he couldn't be more different from Rybakina, who's a cool on-court customer more often than not. However, the coach's aggression can easily rub off on the World No. 6 in the future. For now, she's immune and she confirmed the same after beating Sakkari on Monday upon being asked if Ivanisevic was teaching her how to break rackets.

"Well not yet, I think. As I said, it’s still too early, maybe he will bring somehow from me this energy which he used to have on the court, but yeah, we will see. For now, I’m too calm and no one can break it," Elena Rybakina said during her on-court interview. [1:50]

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"Definitely not going to see Elena Rybakina breaking rackets" - Goran Ivanisevic

Elena Rybakina (Getty)

In an interview with Tennis Channel during the 2025 United Cup in Perth, Goran Ivanisevic listed a couple of changes that he's working on with Elena Rybakina.

"Trying to push her to come to the net more. She has a big game and can finish the point much earlier than she was usually doing. She needs to put in her head that she can play more aggressively, come to the net, and finish some points with the volleys," he said.

Further, Ivanisevic hoped to see her new student being more expressive on the court, however, suggested that she might never break a racket.

"Definitely not going to see her breaking rackets, but hopefully she does show more emotion. She’s a very different person and very calm. But I’ve been trying to put some emotion, I think it’s going to help her game," he added.

Interestingly, Elena Rybakina and Goran Ivanisevic have a thing in common in that the two are Wimbledon champions. Rybakina won it in 2022 while the Croat did it in 2001.