Goran Ivanisevic coached Elena Rybakina from November 2024 through January 2025 — a brief trial period that ended after the Australian Open. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and world No. 6, confirmed the appointment on 1 November 2024. Ivanisevic announced the end of the partnership in late January 2025 following Rybakina's exit from the Australian Open.
November 2024 — A New Direction
Rybakina confirmed Ivanisevic as her new coach on 1 November 2024, with the partnership set to begin with the 2025 WTA Tour season. The appointment came as Rybakina was looking to build on her 2022 Wimbledon title and establish herself more consistently among the game's elite.
The pairing made tactical sense — Ivanisevic's grass-court expertise and serve coaching credentials aligned well with Rybakina's powerful, serve-based game. She had won Wimbledon in 2022 and reached the final in 2023, making her one of the most dangerous players on grass.
January 2025 — Trial Period Ends
Following Rybakina's exit from the 2025 Australian Open, Ivanisevic announced in late January that the coaching partnership had ended after the trial period. The split was described as the conclusion of the agreed trial rather than a dramatic departure.
Reports indicated that the return of Rybakina's long-term coach Stefano Vukov — who had been under a ban — contributed to the end of the arrangement. Ivanisevic had been brought in as a trial partner while Vukov's situation was unresolved.