Rybakina confident over Ivanisevic tandem

PERTH, Australia (AFP) — Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina expressed confidence that her new partnership with Novak Djokovic’s former coach Goran Ivanisevic will pay dividends, starting at the mixed-teams United Cup.

The world No. 6 completed a Dubai training block with the Croat before joining her Kazakhstan compatriots for the Perth leg of the 18-nation tournament, which starts the 2025 season and is also being played in Sydney.

Kazakhstan faces Spain in the opening tie on Friday, with Rybakina a favorite against 54th-ranked Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

The match will be the first test of her new collaboration with the 53-year-old Ivanisevic, who parted ways last season with 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.

“We had a couple of weeks together, Goran’s a fun guy,” said Rybakina, the beaten finalist in the 2023 Australian Open.

“I can’t say (too) much about our work, but we had a good preparation.”

“Not much time has passed but I’m already getting experience from him, especially as a player, how he used to prepare.”

“I’m learning every day, I’m feeling much better physically and hopefully we can do well here,” she said after an injury-marred 2024.

Ivanisevic came on board with Rybakina in November after Djokovic shook up his team as he hits the twilight of a remarkable career, replacing him with Andy Murray.

Rybakina is looking to make up for last season’s disappointment after winning three titles in her first eight tournaments before being sidelined by a back problem and illness.

The 25-year-old skipped the late-season Asian swing before she returned at the WTA Finals, where she defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

The entire Kazakh squad are newcomers to the United Cup, now in its third edition. They bonded with a Christmas dinner and are liking their chances.

“This is my first time on a team,” Rybakina said.

“There are not a lot of team events so I’m hyped about this one. I hope we will have great chances.”

“It’s nice to change the schedule a bit at the start of the year. Here you can face good players, I’m looking forward to the start.”