"I'm feeling much better physically": Elena Rybakina 'learning every day' working with new coach Goran Ivanisevic

In perhaps a bit of an ominous warning to the rest of the tour, Elena Rybakina says she is improving everyday amid her new partnership with a certain Goran Ivanisevic. She is currently preparing for United Cup duty.

She will start her season earlier than even usual. Ordinarily Rybakina will play Brisbane and Adelaide with last season seeing her perhaps playing too much which provided an undoing.

But the World Number Six cut ties with Stefano Vukov just before the autumn last year and has added Goran Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon champion and a man in high demand after coaching one Novak Djokovic for the last six years. Whilst not gleaming too much, she said in particular that she is improving physically and is learning everyday from him in a partnership many expect to pay dividends due to her exceptional talent.

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“We had a couple of weeks together, Goran’s a fun guy,” said Rybakina. “I can’t say (too) much about our work, but we had a good preparation.

“Not much time has passed but I’m already getting experience from him, especially as a player, how he used to prepare.

“I’m learning every day, I’m feeling much better physically and hopefully we can do well here,” she said after an injury-marred 2024.

Rybakina and also Alexander Shevchenko for Kazakhstan have recent team experience with the World Tennis League perhaps done by design by both to get ready. Kazakhstan face Spain in the opening tie on Friday with Rybakina set to face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

“This is my first time on a team,” Rybakina said. “There are not a lot of team events so I’m hyped about this one. I hope we will have great chances.

“It’s nice to change the schedule a bit at the start of the year. Here you can face good players, I’m looking forward to the start.”

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