Rybakina appoints Ivanisevic as coach from 2025

Elena Rybakina reached the final of the 2023 Australian Open, losing to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets

Elena Rybakina has appointed fellow former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic as her coach from next season.

The world number five won her first and so far only Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2022 with former coach Stefano Vukov.

Ivanisevic, who memorably won Wimbledon as a wildcard in 2001, previously worked with Novak Djokovic for six seasons.

He helped Djokovic to 12 of his 24 major titles, and also oversaw Marin Cilic's US Open triumph in 2014.

"I think he's a great champion and he has so much experience," said Rybakina.

"I'm really looking forward to start."

Kazakhstan's Rybakina, 25, has not played since the US Open in August, having withdrawn before her second-round match.

She split with long-term coach Vukov just before the final Grand Slam of the season.

"It's something new for me. I've been with one coach for a long time. I want to learn," Rybakina added.

"I'm really happy and we will see what we can do together."

Rybakina claimed three titles in the first four months of the season but suffered a surprise semi-final defeat at SW19 to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova.

She is set to compete at the season-ending WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, which consists of the eight singles players who have accumulated the most ranking points over the season.

She faces Jasmine Paolini in her first pool match on Saturday.