Former Novak Djokovic coach Goran Ivanisevic says Elena Rybakina ‘can win more Slams’ - ‘I can teach her something’
Published 05/11/2024 at 12:49 GMT
Elena Rybakina's new coach Goran Ivanisevic, who led Novak Djokovic to nine major titles, believes the 25-year-old can add more Grand Slam medals to her haul as he takes on his first job on the WTA Tour. “I feel I can teach her something. I mean, she is already No. 5 in the world, but I think she can win more Slams, that’s for sure," Ivanisevic said of Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022.
Elena Rybakina
Image credit: Getty Images
Elena Rybakina has teamed up with Novak Djokovic’s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, who believes the Kazakhstani has all the potential to “win more slams”.
Rybakina, 25, is currently ranked No. 5 in the world and already has a Wimbledon title to her name, which she collected after victory against Ons Jabeur in 2022.
Since then, she has not fared so well at Grand Slam tournaments and has only reached one final, the Australian Open in 2023, while she exited at the semi-final stage of Wimbledon earlier this year.
Ivanisevic, who has only coached players on the ATP Tour, including five years with 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic, has backed his new student to add more majors to her title haul.
“Game-wise, she has got a big serve, tall, strong hitter who plays aggressively. She won Wimbledon just like me,” he said.
“I feel I can teach her something. I mean, she is already No. 5 in the world, but I think she can win more Slams, that’s for sure.”
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Ivanisevic revealed that he “needed something new” after his stint with Djokovic and after multiple offers, made the “right” choice in joining Rybakina’s set-up.
“Firstly, we need to get to know each other better. I won’t go too much into detail, but she’s got room for improvement in every aspect of the game,” Ivanisevic added.
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Ivanisevic training with Djokovic at the Wimbledon Championships
Image credit: Getty Images
“She can achieve better results. It’s going to be interesting. I know that many people found it odd and that people were surprised by our collaboration, but not me – I needed a U-turn after Novak.
“I won everything with Novak, so I am extremely looking forward to this new challenge.
“Honestly, during my time on the ATP Tour, I never pictured myself on the women’s tour, but I don’t see myself in men’s tennis at the moment.”
Despite his new venture, Ivanisevic keeps a close eye on his former pupil and believes 37-year-old Djokovic is “still the best in the world” and has backed him to add to his record-breaking list of Grand Slams.
“I can’t know if he is motivated and how much, but the moment he decides to play, it means that he is eager to play,” he said.
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Sinner sweeps aside Djokovic to lift Shanghai Masters
Video credit: TNT Sports
“Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are convincingly above the rest of the field, but I put Novak in the group with them, because when Novak really wants to play, he is still the best in the world, in my opinion.
“The other thing is how much he wants to play and when – we saw at the Olympics. If he goes out on the court like that, then he can still win a Slam.
“Also, it depends on his ranking and the draw, when does he need to face Sinner or Alcaraz, lots of factors, but can Novak do it? Yes, he can.
“You can never write him off, I would never do that. And good for me – I won’t have to root against Novak, I can stay his fan, unless he switches to women’s tennis!”
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