3 players who parted ways with long-term coaches before US Open 2024 ft. Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina is among the players who changed their coaches before this year's edition of the US Open. The Kazakh and Stefano Vukov parted ways not long before the commencement of the New York Major.
The 2024 season has seen numerous instances of players splitting up with their coaches. One very notable instance being that of Novak Djokovic, who split up with Goran Ivanisevic following the Serb's exit from the BNP Paribas Open. The likes of Maria Sakkari and Frances Tiafoe also changed coaches.
Over the past month, there have been a few instances of well-known players parting ways with their coaches. On that note, let us take a look at them.
Honorable mention - Hubert Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz split from his coach Craig Boynton following his second-round exit at the US Open. Boynton said that the duo mutually decided to part ways.
"What a special ride these past 5 years have been. We have experienced so many unbelievable highs and have grown so much together, however, sometimes good things must come to an end. Hubi and I have mutually agreed to go our separate ways. So grateful for our time together. I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life and the opportunities that will come," Boynton wrote on Instagram.
Boynton started coaching Hurkacz in 2019 and the Pole has had some remarkable results under his tutelage, including two Masters 1000 titles and a Grand Slam semifinal. The American was nominated for the ATP Coach of the Year award twice, in 2021 and 2023.
#3. Holger Rune
World No. 15 Holger Rune has had a few coaching changes this year, the most recent of which came in July. The Dane parted ways with Patrick Mouratoglou but said that the latter would always be a "great friend". He also stated that former tennis player Kenneth Carlsen would be his coach.
"I have had some good talks with Patrick, and we mutually decided to part ways. He will always be a great friend, but for now, the best setup for me is to continue with Kenneth who will be present at all practices and tournaments," the Dane wrote on social media.
Mouratoglou, who had a previous coaching stint with Rune, rejoined his team along with Carlsen following the departures of Boris Becker and Severin Luthi earlier in 2024.
Since he started training under only Kenneth Carlsen, Rune reached the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open. However, he followed this with a second successive first-round exit at the US Open. The Dane now has 33 wins out of 51 matches so far in 2024.
#2. Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas' father Apostolos had been his coach since his younger days, and the two parted ways professionally in 2023 when Mark Philippoussis became the Greek's coach. However, the father-son duo were back on the ATP Tour after Philippoussis left.
The 26-year-old's father left his coaching team in August after the former's opening-round exit at the Canadian Open.
"It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my collaboration with my father as a coach has come to an end. I prefer to keep my father in his role as a father, and only as a father," Tsitsipas wrote on X.
Stefanos Tsitsipas' performances have been disappointing lately, having lost in the second round of the Cincinnati Open before losing 6-7(5), 6-4, 3-6, 5-7 to Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round of the US Open. This marks his first opening-round exit at a Grand Slam since the 2022 edition of the New York Major.
Tsitsipas now has 36 wins out of 53 matches so far in the 2024 season.
#1. Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina split up with her longtime coach Stefano Vukov just a few days before the US Open. Vukov guided the Kazakh to her maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2022 and a few WTA 1000 tournament wins.
Rybakina recently shared that she split with the Croat and thanked him for his contributions.
"Hello Everyone, after 5 years, Stefano and I are no longer working together. I thank him for his work on-court and wish him all the best for the future," Elena Rybakina captioned her Instagram story.
Elena Rybakina recently withdrew from the US Open before her second-round match against Jessika Ponchet. She cited injuries as the reason behind this. Rybakina's win-loss record for the 2024 season is 41-9, winning three WTA 500 titles while reaching two WTA 1000 finals.