Goran Ivanisevic admits he needed a change after splitting from Novak Djokovic

Goran Ivanisevic expressed that he had not anticipated coaching on the WTA Tour; however, he chose to partner with 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina as he felt a need for a significant change following his departure from Novak Djokovic.

The Croatian played a pivotal role in Djokovic's success, contributing to nine of his 24 Grand Slam victories before leaving the team in March. Recently, he was appointed as the coach for world number five Rybakina for the 2025 season.

Ivanisevic, who secured the Wimbledon title in 2001 as a player, has primarily coached male athletes, including Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych, and Milos Raonic.

"I understand that many found our partnership unusual and were surprised by it, but I was not – I required a change after my time with Novak," he stated in an interview with Tennis Majors published on Tuesday.

"I achieved everything with Novak, so I am genuinely excited about this new opportunity. To be honest, during my tenure on the ATP Tour, I never envisioned myself coaching in women's tennis, but I currently do not see myself in men's tennis."

Rybakina claimed titles in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, and Stuttgart during the first half of 2024 but subsequently missed several tournaments due to health issues and injuries.

The Kazakh player has faced defeats in her first two matches at the ongoing WTA Finals in Riyadh.

SportsLigue