Elena Rybakina has opened up about her short-lived collaboration with Goran Ivanisevic as she admitted she is “not such an easy player” to work with.

The 2022 Wimbledon winner hired Ivanisevic at the end of the 2024 season following her split with long-time coach Stefano Vukov in August.

Rybakina revealed on January 1, however, that Vukov would be re-joining her coaching team for the 2025 season.

The day after Rybakina’s announcement, The Athletic reported last week that Vukov, who was Rybakina’s coach from 2019 to 2024, had been suspended by the WTA amid an investigation into a breach of their code of conduct.

Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon champion and world No 2, was “blindsided” by Vukov’s shock return, according to the report.

Vukov did not receive accreditation for Australian Open, with Tennis Australia upholding the WTA’s provisional suspension. The WTA is yet to announce the outcome of the investigation.

Ivanisevic coached Rybakina at the Australian Open, where the 25-year-old reached the fourth round, losing to eventual champion Madison Keys.

WTA Tennis News

Elena Rybakina coaching move backed as Stefano Vukov ‘friends’ revelation is made by former No 1

Elena Rybakina critical of Stefano Vukov investigation as she reveals new coach

Following the Melbourne Grand Slam, Ivanisevic announced he would no longer be coaching Rybakina.

“After our trial period that finished with Australian Open, I wish Elena and her team best of luck moving forward,” the Croatian wrote on social media.

With the Vukov saga still unresolved, Rybakina is working with Italian coach Davide Sanguinetti at this week’s Abu Dhabi Open.

The world No 5 is the top seed and defending champion at the WTA 500 tournament.

Prior to her campaign in the United Arab Emirates, Rybakina addressed the end of her partnership with Ivanisevic.

“We just sat down, we talked, and we decided to go our separate ways. But I think I learned a lot and it’s not easy to find a good collaboration,” the Kazakh told AFP.

“It of course takes time and everything, but that was our decision. We’ll see how this year goes for me. I’m also not such an easy player maybe like some people think, ‘Oh it’s easy with her’, or something, but it’s not really like this.

“I think every person is different and there is no one who is perfect. I can be sometimes stubborn on the court, stubborn on some things, that’s at least my honest opinion.”

Rybakina also confirmed she is still in regular contact with Vukov as she highlighted the key role the Croatian coach has played in her career.

“He’s an important person in my career. We started when I was like 200 [in the WTA Rankings],” she explained. “So it’s a lot of things, on the court, outside of the court, he’s helping out with.

“I feel like of course it’s not ideal that he cannot be on the practice courts but at the same time we are finding a way also with help of Davide, his opinion. I hope it’s going to work out. We have a good team in the end of the day.”

READ NEXT:  T365 Week 6 Predictions: Carlos Alcaraz snubbed as Elena Rybakina, Taylor Fritz backed