Coach Goran Ivanisevic has ended his brief collaboration with Elena Rybakina, concluding their partnership just one month after it began. The Croatian tennis legend announced the decision not to continue beyond their trial period in a statement shared on Instagram.
“After our trial period that finished with Australian Open, I wish Elena and her team best of luck moving forward,” the former Novak Djokovic coach wrote on social media.
The partnership was clouded from the outset due to lingering controversies involving Rybakina’s previous coach, fellow Croatian Stefano Vukov. Vukov, currently under investigation by the WTA for alleged abusive behavior, was controversially reinstated to Rybakina’s team shortly before Ivanisevic’s departure. This move reportedly placed Ivanisevic in an uncomfortable position, ultimately prompting his decision to step away.
During their brief collaboration, Rybakina, ranked seventh in the world, reached the fourth round of the Australian Open but was defeated by Madison Keys. After her exit, Rybakina appeared visibly distressed and opened up about the challenges of not having Vukov in her coaching box in Melbourne: “This is not the situation I want to be in. Of course I want to have who I want in the box, but I couldn’t change it. I the end of the day, I just tried to focus on my match.”
While Ivanisevic has officially stepped away, Rybakina now faces the challenge of stabilizing her coaching team amid ongoing scrutiny of Vukov’s conduct.
Women’s Tennis Blog