Elena Rybakina Contemplates Future Coaching Career Amidst Turmoil in Coaching Team
Tennis sensation Elena Rybakina has hinted at the possibility of pursuing a coaching career in the future, although she expressed reservations about traveling full-time with a player. During a meeting with fellow tennis stars Caroline Garcia, Maria Sakkari, and Jasmine Paolini in Miami, Rybakina engaged in a discussion about post-playing career options, revealing her openness to the idea of coaching. The Kazakh athlete mentioned her willingness to coach juniors, older players, or professionals, as well as teaching young children.
The 25-year-old, who recently won the 2022 Wimbledon championship, shared her uncertainty about who she would choose as her own coach, stating, “I have no idea, that’s a tough one.”
Rybakina’s coaching journey has been tumultuous in recent times, marked by a series of changes in her coaching team. After parting ways with Stefano Vukov and briefly bringing in Goran Ivanisevic before rehiring Vukov, conflicts arose within the team. Ivanisevic exited the coaching setup after Vukov’s return, leading to the latter receiving a one-year ban from coaching by the WTA. In response, Rybakina enlisted the help of Davide Sanguinetti, former coach of Dinara Safina, to join her coaching staff.
Sanguinetti publicly expressed his support for working alongside Vukov, emphasizing his willingness to coach Rybakina jointly with the controversial figure. The player herself voiced frustrations with the WTA’s handling of the Vukov situation, indicating a strained relationship with the organization over the matter.
As Rybakina navigates the complexities of her coaching team and considers potential future roles as a coach, the tennis world awaits her next moves with bated breath.