Elena Rybakina’s Australian Open journey ended prematurely in the fourth round, but it wasn’t just her performance on the court that garnered attention. The Kazakhstani star’s evolving coaching dynamic has become a hot topic, raising questions about the future of her team and her working relationship with Goran Ivanisevic.
A Disappointing Exit
Coming into the Australian Open as a former finalist and a natural on hard courts, Rybakina was one of the tournament favorites. However, her campaign was cut short after a grueling three-set battle against Madison Keys, losing 3-6, 6-1, 3-6. Despite her early exit, Rybakina maintained composure and refused to blame an injury she sustained during her previous match, even though it required treatment and limited her preparation.
“I did a full day of recovery and some treatments. It was better this match than the previous one, definitely,” she said. “But now, after the match is done, I still have some pain. I need to take time to rest, heal, and continue to work.”
Coaching Controversy: Vukov vs. Ivanisevic
While her on-court performance drew some criticism, much of the buzz surrounded Rybakina’s coaching situation. Ahead of the tournament, she rehired her former coach Stefano Vukov, who is under WTA investigation. Vukov’s absence in Melbourne, mandated by the investigation, meant that Goran Ivanisevic, her recently recruited coach, was her primary support during the tournament.
The arrangement, however, appeared far from ideal. Rybakina openly expressed her frustration about not having Vukov courtside:
“This is not the situation I want to be in or someone wants to be in. Of course, I want to have who I want in the box, but I couldn’t change it. At the end of the day, I just tried to focus on my matches.”
Ivanisevic’s Uncertain Future
Goran Ivanisevic, a seasoned coach known for his work with top players like Novak Djokovic, seemed to enter the partnership with cautious optimism. But the sudden reappointment of Vukov has cast doubts over his role. Speaking about their short tenure together, Rybakina admitted that the setup was experimental and that a decision would be made soon:
“We still need to talk, of course. We just tried the pre-season and these couple of tournaments. It was something we were just getting used to. We will definitely talk about how the next schedule is going to look.”
Ivanisevic had previously hinted that the dual-coach arrangement wasn’t his ideal scenario. If Rybakina commits to Vukov full-time, Ivanisevic’s departure seems increasingly likely.
A Complex Dynamic Moving Forward
For Rybakina, who has established herself as one of the most consistent players on the WTA Tour, finding stability in her coaching setup is crucial. With two Grand Slam titles under her belt, her ambition to remain at the top of the rankings demands clarity and synergy within her team.
As Rybakina said herself, “I have to focus on the tennis and not the noise around it.” Whether her coaching team will remain as it is or undergo a significant shake-up remains to be seen.