Novak Djokovic and Elena Rybakina will both be hoping their recent coaching changes can bring success in 2025.
Djokovic will be coached by Andy Murray at the Australian Open, with Rybakina bringing in Goran Ivanisevic for the foreseeable future.
Ivanisevic and Djokovic worked together for five years until March last year, with the pair enjoying a superb five-year partnership.
The latter won nine Grand Slam titles under the former, but seemingly decided that a new direction was needed.
Rybakina meanwhile parted ways with long-time coach Stefano Vukov before the US Open, with Ivanisevic joining her ranks in the off-season.
What Novak Djokovic has noticed about Elena Rybakina under Goran Ivanisevic
The Croatian has swapped the ATP Tour for the WTA Tour with the decision, which has left Djokovic excited.
Asked about his thoughts on the partnership in a Brisbane International press conference, the Serbian replied: “Well, I was actually happy, because we talked about… you know, we actually like Rybakina, the way she plays and how she is as a person.
READ MORE: Goran Ivanisevic says what he’s heard from other players about Elena Rybakina prior to coaching her
“When Goran used to work with me, we always liked to watch her play. So I was happy to hear the news that they are together. Hopefully Goran can contribute in a positive way to her game, to her success. I mean, she’s a top player.
“She’s won a Grand Slam already, and she knows how that feels. I’m sure she’s hungry for more and she seems to be very motivated.
“She started off the season, I saw, with a couple of good wins. So I wish them all the best. I texted Goran the other day. I don’t think he’s ever worked on WTA Tour.
“Maybe he didn’t work for a long time, but he was mostly on the ATP Tour. So I asked him how it feels and everything, and it’s a bit different for him, but he’s pumped to help her out, and hopefully we can see them lifting some big trophies together.”
What is Elena Rybakina’s Grand Slam record?
Rybakina does, of course, already know how it feels to win a Grand Slam, having emerged successful at Wimbledon in 2022.
She is also an eight-time WTA Tour champion, with the Kazakhstan ace having once reached number three in the rankings.
The 25-year-old has, however, since slipped to sixth, while she also has a Grand Slam final loss on her CV.
| Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open | |
| 2019 | N/A | 1st | N/A | 1st |
| 2020 | 3rd | 2nd | N/A | 2nd |
| 2021 | 2nd | QF | 4th | 3rd |
| 2022 | 2nd | 3rd | WON | 1st |
| 2023 | RUP | 3rd | QF | 3rd |
| 2024 | 2nd | QF | SF | 2nd |
Ivanisevic will, therefore, be keen to get Rybakina back to her very best in 2025, with the player already making a stunning start.
She has helped fire Kazakhstan into the semi-finals of the 2025 United Cup, having won all of her matches so far.
READ MORE: Andy Roddick reacts after Elena Rybakina picks Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach for 2025
Her nation topped Group C with two wins from two in Perth before a hard-fought quarter-final win over defending champions Germany.
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