Elena Rybakina Provides Update On Working With Coach Ivanisevic After Pre-Season
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Elena Rybakina will start the 2025 season a bit differently than she used to, as she will play in a tournament she never played before and also with a new coach.
It seems like the Kazakhstani player hit a "reset button" after she struggled a lot in 2024. While her tennis never seemed to be an issue, Rybakina seemed to be having some off-court issues, mostly with her coach, Stefano Vukov.
However, the former Wimbledon champion always defended her former coach, so despite multiple reports, fans will probably never learn what the relationship between the two was really like.
Still, Rybakina appointed a new coach for the 2025 season, as she will be working with fellow former Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic, who previously worked with Novak Djokovic.
She will also play in a tournament that she never played before at the start of the new season. The Kazakhstani player chose to represent her country at the 2025 United Cup.
Speaking during the press conference ahead of the tournament, Rybakina revealed that she's expecting a challenging first match like every time at the start of the new season.
"It's really fun to be in the team. For me, it's my first time playing United Cup. I'm looking forward. We have a good team. A lot of fun. I thought it would be nice to change a little bit beginning of the year. Team event also I think it's quite fun. Still, you can play against a lot of good players. I thought it's not a bad idea to change a little bit."
"I think it's going to be quite difficult because I just arrived a couple of days ago. I mean, like everybody, still a lot of jet lag. Physically not easy. Different conditions, quite hot. I think the first match is definitely going to be tough. But after a couple of days, hopefully, it's going to be better."
Rybakina now has an experience working with coach Ivanisevic after the two completed the pre-season training together, and naturally, she was asked about an update on how she liked working with the former Croatian player.
"Yeah, we did a couple of weeks together. He's a fun guy. I mean, still, I cannot say much about our work. We definitely did some good preparation. Hopefully, you will see on the court."
"It's still like not so much time has passed. I'm getting some experience from him also as a player, how he used to prepare maybe for the matches, tournaments. Same as a coach. Yeah, I'm learning every day. Hopefully, it's going to go well for both of us."
In 2024, Rybakina also struggled with plenty of physical issues, so that's also something she was asked about. The Kazakhstani player insisted that she was finally healthy.
"Well, of course now I'm much better. I've been practicing. Hopefully I can continue this way."
Rybakina will start her 2025 season against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain in Kazakhstan's first tie of the 2025 United Cup.
Latest Comments
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MrMustard18-12-2024 - All that is said , all that is done. Nick has 0 grand slams wins. Everything else is hot 🥵 air.MrMustard18-12-2024
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