Elena Rybakina’s Decision to Let Go of Goran Ivanisevic for a Banned WTA Coach Under Fire From Tennis Insider

Elena Rybakina isn’t exactly known for making waves off the court. But lately? The usually composed Kazakh has found herself at the center of a coaching saga that has the tennis world buzzing. It all started last August when she parted ways with Stefano Vukov, the man who had been by her side for years. Then came the shocker—she brought in Goran Ivanisevic, the legendary coach who helped Novak Djokovic dominate the sport. It seemed like the perfect pairing- 2 Wimbledon champions with a booming serve teaming up seemed perfect on paper. Until it wasn’t! Surprising? Well, you’re not the only one who feels that way.

Rybakina and Ivanisevic’s partnership ended almost as quickly as it began. And it wasn’t a smooth exit. The Croatian coach reportedly stepped away after Vukov, who was under WTA investigation, returned to the picture. Ivanisevic was apparently blindsided by this move and ended his “trial” partnership with the World No.5 after the Australian Open.

Veteran journalist Matt Futterman of The New York Times weighed in on the drama on the Inside-In Tennis Podcast, saying, “That’s sort of a—you can’t really imagine doing that to just about any coach and doing it to Goran in particular, who’s probably had a pretty good choice on who he would coach after he broke things off with Djokovic. So, the idea that he would be treated in that way is pretty surprising, especially to him. It was certainly surprising to all of us.” Talking about Stefano Vukov, he said, “And yeah, is one year enough? I don’t know. I do think one of the outcomes of this becoming public is that other players will certainly think twice about hiring him in the future.”

Ivanisevic’s exit left many questioning Rybakina’s decision-making, but the real controversy is far from over. Stefano Vukov and Rybakina split in August 2024, just before the US Open, as the WTA was conducting an investigation into him. In February, the organization upheld its ruling and Vukov remains banned for a year. Yet, despite his suspension, Rybakina didn’t exactly cut ties with him as she continued to defend him.

The Athletic report revealed troubling details about their relationship. It alleged that their dynamic went beyond professional boundaries and that Rybakina’s mother had even pleaded with Vukov not to make her daughter cry. The report also suggested that his treatment of Rybakina may have contributed to her struggles with insomnia.

So, will she bring him back once his suspension is lifted? That remains the burning question. But even while officially banned, Vukov’s presence in Rybakina’s career is far from over.

Elena Rybakina is still in contact with controversial coach Stefano Vukov

While Vukov can’t officially coach Rybakina, she has found a stand-in—Davide Sanguinetti. The 52-year-old Italian coach, who has previously worked with players like Dinara Safina, Vince Spadea, and Brandon Nakashima, has stepped in for now. But here’s the twist—he’s also a close friend of Vukov.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sanguinetti admitted that he remains in regular contact with Vukov. He even played down concerns about Rybakina essentially having two coaches, saying, “Vukov and Elena are close, he will always be there. Stefano and I talk a lot, we are on the same wavelength. It’s not a problem to have two coaches, it’s almost a trend now.”

That statement only fueled speculation. If Vukov is still involved, is Sanguinetti really the one calling the shots? While Vukov himself wasn’t present at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships—since he can’t obtain tournament credentials—his father reportedly was. He was seen in the stands during Rybakina’s quarterfinal match against Sofia Kenin, adding yet another layer to the already murky situation.

On the court, Rybakina’s struggles continued. After defeating Kenin, she was stopped in the semifinals by 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva. Her last title came at the Stuttgart Open in April 2024. Since then, inconsistency and withdrawals—eight, to be exact—have plagued her season. So, is this coaching chaos helping or hurting Rybakina’s game? And more importantly—who will really be in her corner when the time comes?