10 top tennis players who announced major changes to their coaching team mid-season in 2024 ft. Novak Djokovic, Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka

Novak Djokovic, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka have all parted ways with tennis coaches they have been associated with for long periods. The trio, however, is not alone as the 2024 season has brought quite a few shake-ups.

With no shortage of coaching talent on both the men’s and the women’s Tours, the possibilities are endless and players are more willing than ever to experiment. Here, we have listed some of the major splits that the top tennis names have undergone in recent months:

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Major coaching team changes amid the 2024 tennis season

#10 Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff paired up with former Andre Agassi coach Brad Gilbert in the middle of last year. Success followed soon as she won her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open within weeks of joining hands.

The American, however, on Wednesday announced that the duo’s 14-month run had come to an end. The change comes in the backdrop of her having failed to defend her US Open crown, besides also having suffered early exits at Wimbledon, the Paris Olympics, and other recent events during the American hardcourt swing. Gauff thanked Gilbert for her contributions on X.

“Thank you @bgtennisnation ! We had an incredible run and I wish you all the best in the future!”

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#9 Jessica Pegula

Jessica Pegula (L) and David Witt | Getty Images

Jessica Pegula and David Witt’s five-year association ended at the start of the 2024 season. The American had at the time said she did not want to end her career regretting not having tried “something different”.

Witt’s partnership with Pegula had seen him bag the WTA Coach of the Year award in 2022, the year when the American climbed to No. 3 in the rankings.

Things have, however, worked out well for Pegula with her new team led by Mark Knowles and Mark Merklein as she peaked at No. 2 in the ranking this year and made her first Slam final at the US Open.

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#8 Maria Sakkari

After her split with Jessica Pegula, David Witt joined hands with Maria Sakkari ahead of the Sunshine Double but that partnership did not last very long.

The Greek player, who has struggled with her performance in recent years, parted ways with Witt a month ago. Her search for another tennis coach ended when she signed up with former Spanish pro, Sergi Bruguera.

A French Open champion, Bruguera has been the captain of Spain’s Davis Cup team and previously coached Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Alexander Zverev.

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#7 Frances Tiafoe

Another short-lived partnership that ended in 2024 was between Frances Tiafoe and Diego Moyano, who mentored the American only for six months. And David Witt was in the picture again.

The duo began working in July and the results have followed, with Tiafoe making the US Open semifinal. The American heaped praise on his new tennis coach during the ATL Open.

“Yeah, it's been good. It’s been about a week, a week-and-a-half. Obviously, he’s super-focused like me. He’s obviously done a great job with me, done a great job with [Jessica] Pegula,” Frances Tiafoe said.

“I just wanted a fresh start with someone, and I thought he was the perfect guy. Luckily, it's been good so far,” he had added.

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#6 Holger Rune

Holger Rune has oscillated between a few high-profile tennis coaches in recent times. He ended his association with Boris Becker in February this year, just months after joining hands. The German had said at the time that he couldn't “give Holger what he needs now” due to other personal and professional responsibilities.

Rune, meanwhile, reunited with Patrick Mouratoglou, who coached him to his maiden Masters 1000 title at the 2022 Paris Masters. The French coach has famously collaborated with the likes of Serena Williams and Simona Halep.

Their recent partnership, however, lasted only a few months as the duo decided to mutually part ways in July. The Dane is now coached by compatriot Kenneth Carlsen.

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#5 Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka, also recently announced her decision to part ways with her coach, in this case Wim Fissette.

Notably, it marked the duo’s second split as they had earlier ended their partnership back in 2022 but Fissette rejoined the Japanese player’s team upon her return to Tour from maternity leave last year. The decision had stirred controversy as Fissette had just signed up with coach Zheng Qinwen but ended that partnership unceremoniously to coach Osaka.

Osaka has posted underwhelming results this season, even exiting the US Open, a tournament she has won twice in the past, in the second round. She wrote on her Instagram stories while announcing the split:

“4 years, 2 Slams and a whole lot of memories. Thanks Wim for being a great coach and an even greater person, wishing you all the best,” the tennis player wrote.

The four-time Grand Slam champion is ready for a new innings once again as she arrived in Beijing with her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, for the China Open.

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#4 Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner (center, olive T-shirt) with his tennis team after winning the 2024 US Open | Getty Images

Jannik Sinner made some changes to his team, bringing on board fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio to his team ahead of the Asian swing this year.

Notably, Sinner had been at the center of a doping controversy when a massage cream administered by past physio Giacomo Naldi led to him being contaminated by Clostebol, a banned steroid. The change-up then was more on the expected lines. Panichi, for one, has had a long association with Novak Djokovic.

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#3 Hubert Hurkacz

One of the longest-standing associations on the ATP Tour came to an end when Hubert Hurkacz and tennis coach Craig Boynton split earlier last month.

The Pole had won all his eight Tour-level titles under the tutelage of the American. Their partnership goes back five years to March 2019.

“What a special ride these past five years have been. We have experienced so many unbelievable highs and have grown so much together, however, sometimes good things must come to an end,” Boynton wrote in a tribute to their partnership.

“Hubi and I have mutually agreed to go our separate ways. So grateful for our time together. I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life and the opportunities that will come.”

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#2 Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina (R) and tennis coach Stefano Vukov | Getty Images

Another long partnership ended when Elena Ryakina surprised everyone after announcing a split with Stefano Vukov, under whom she rose the ranks and won her maiden and to date only Grand Slam title at the 2022 Wimbledon.

“After 5 years Stefano and I are no longer working together. I thank him for his work on-court and wish him all the best for the future. Thank you all for your support,” Rybakina wrote in a short post on social media to announce the split.

Vukov has since been taken off the WTA’s official tennis coaches list, leading to further speculation about the split.

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#1 Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic pictured with Goran Ivanisevic (R) - Image Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic's partnership with coach Goran Ivanisevic came to an end after six years. Djokovic has in the past credited Ivanisevic of having added multiple dimensions to his game, but coming into 2024, he seemed ready for the next move.

The Serb announced his decision to part ways with the Tennis Hall of Famer in March after an unusually slow start to the season. A month later, he also parted ways with fitness coach Marco Panichi, who would later go on to join Jannik Sinner's entourage.

"I remember clearly the moment I invited Goran to be part of my team. It was back in 2018, and Marian and I were looking to innovate and bring some serve magic to our duo. In fact, not only we brought serve, but also lots of laughter, fun, year end no1 rankings, record breaking achievements," Novak Djokovic wrote on his Instagram hinting at an eventual six-years with Goran Ivanisevic.