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WTA star Elena Rybakina kicked off the 2025 season by announcing her plans to reunite with ex-coach Stefano Vukov. This update, unfortunately, has sparked intense discussions among the tennis community ahead of the upcoming Australian Swing.
Rybakina marked an end to her 5-year-long partnership with Vukov earlier in 2024, just before the US Open. Vukov was no stranger to controversy in that time, with many in the tennis community questioning his methods of coaching the Kazakh. According to some reports, he was also speculated of being banned from coaching WTA players after the split.
At the end of 2024, the former Wimbledon champion signed up with Novak Djokovic's ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic, a decision that garnered a lot of optimism from fans and pundits alike. However, the decision to bring back Vukov to the team as well now has made things significantly more complicated.
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In light of all this, former WTA pro Coco Vandeweghe has shared her confused thoughts on Elena Rybakina's abrupt decision. In a conversation with Prakash Amritraj at the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, she brought to attention Rybakina & Vukov's turbulent past relationship and wondered where Ivanisevic fits into the team now.
"As we saw, it wasn't the healthiest of relationships when they did split so I'm konda putting a question mark out here of why when you signed on Goran so why would you go back to the old. You're here for a new voice and a different kinda perspective," she said.
The American also questioned her need to bring the Croatian coach back while she already had one of the most experienced mentors on tour.
"So why would you go back to an old coach. Maybe it wasn't the healthiest but only Elena Rybakina knows. Her own reasoning, her own motivation so you gotta just trust her decision making," she added.
It should be noted that before rehiring Vukov, Elena Rybakina clarified why their relationship ended, and assured fans that it was not a split that left either party with ill feelings.
Novak Djokovic positive about seeing ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic with Elena Rybakina
Meanwhile, Goran Ivanisevic's former ward, Novak Djokovic has given his verdict on his partnership with Elena Rybakina, saying that he was 'happy' to see the Croat join forces with her.
“Well, I was actually happy, because we talked about – you know, we actually like Rybakina, the way she plays and how she is as a person. When Goran used to work with me, we always liked to watch her play,” the Serbian tennis legend said in his press conference at Brisbane.
Djokovic continued:
"So I was happy to hear the news that they are together. Hopefully Goran can contribute in a positive way to her game, to her success. I mean, she’s a top player."
Elena Rybakina is currently in action at the United Cup, where's she has led Kazakhstan into the semifinals.
