Elena Rybakina has stunned fans by reuniting with her axed former coach Stefano Vukov. The duo abruptly parted ways in August last year but they are set to rekindle their working relationship four months later.

Rybakina informed her Instagram followers that Vukov will be returning to her team for the 2025 season. It comes just weeks after she announced Novak Djokovic’s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, as her new mentor.

In a brief statement, she wrote: “Hello everyone, I am excited to announce that Stefano will be joining the team for the 2025 season. Thank you for all the support and wishing you a great 2025.”

Vukov guided Rybakina to the 2022 Wimbledon title – her first Grand Slam triumph. Her ascent to the World No. 3 and her run to the final at the 2023 Australian Open also came under the Croatian.

They worked together for five years but Rybakina announced their surprise split during last year’s US Open. Despite some fans criticising Vukov’s treatment of the Kazakh player during matches, she insists they parted ways on good terms.

Rybakina endured a tough 2024 disrupted by injuries and a loss of form. Her withdrawal from several events was notable, with her missing the Paris Olympics, the US Open and two events on the Asia leg of the campaign.

She is now heading into the Australian Open alongside Ivanisevic but will have Vukov as part of her team.

“We did preparations. For a couple weeks. We’re getting to know each other better. There are a lot of things I can improve,” Rybakina said. “We’re working a little bit on everything. It’s so difficult to come here straight away and play. Slowly I think we will see the results of the work.”

Ivanisevic says he wants Rybakina to show more emotion during matches. “We worked a couple weeks in Dubai,” he told the Tennis Channel. “A little bit on the serve. Trying to push her to come to the net more.

“She has a big game and can finish the point much earlier than she was usually doing. It’s a process. She needs to put in her head that she can play more aggressively, come to the net, and finish some points with the volleys.

“Definitely not going to see her breaking rackets, but hopefully she does show more emotion. She’s a very different person and very calm. But I’ve been trying to put some emotion and I think it’s going to help her game.”