“Trying to push her to come to the net more.. and hopefully she shows more emotion” – Ivanisevic on Rybakina

Before the Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray partnership stole the headlines in the tennis world, fans and pundits were most excited about another new player-coach relationship for the 2025 season. That between Djokovic’s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, and WTA world No 6 Elena Rybakina.

The pair began working in the off-season and Rybakina played her first matches under the big-serving Croat at the United Cup on Friday, scoring a singles victory and a mixed doubles win to help Kazakhstan beat Spain 2-1.

Speaking to the Tennis Channel in Perth, Ivanisevic spoke about some of the things that he has been working on with Rybakina in the past few weeks.

“We worked a couple weeks in Dubai,” Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon champion just like Rybakina, said. “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.”

Ivanisevic, one of the most temperamental players in the sport, added that he has been trying to get the uber cool Kaazkh to also show some emotion on court.

“Definitely not going to see her breaking rackets, but hopefully she does show more emotion,” Ivanisevic said. “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.”

Slowly I think we will see the results of the work.

Meanwhile, after winning her matches in Perth today, Rybakina said she has been working on several things with the Croat and hopes to see the benefits in due time.

“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.”

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