Andy Roddick gives his verdict on Elena Rybakina hiring Goran Ivanisevic as new coach
Andy Roddick has weighed in on Elena Rybakina appointing Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach. The former World No. 1 and 2003 US Open champion has expressed his excitement over the collaboration, especially considering Ivanisevic's successes with Marin Cilic and Novak Djokovic.
Ivanisevic was a feared name on the ATP Tour during his playing days, particularly because of his serve, which was both powerful and accurate. He reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2 in 1994 and won 22 singles titles, including the 2001 Wimbledon Championships.
Recently, Rybakina, the women's singles titlist at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, hired Ivanisevic as her new coach, having split with former coach Stefano Vukov earlier this year. During an appearance on Tennis Channel, Roddick shared his thoughts on the collaboration and its potential going forward.
The former ATP World No. 1 suggested that he shouldn't have been taken aback by the development, stating that he had never considered Ivanisevic as a possibility because of his history as a coach who had only worked with men previously.
"I was surprised but I shouldn't have been (by Elena Rybakina hiring Ivanisevic as her coach). I think we've become a little narrow-minded when Goran's only working with men. So we didn't have his name in the conversation, but if you think about it, past my own ignorance, both big servers who can hit all spots on the court," Roddick said.
Next, the 2003 US Open champion cited the examples of Cilic and Djokovic, two of Ivanisevic's former pupils. Ivanisevic led Cilic to the 2014 US Open title, and Djokovic to nine of his 24 major titles. Roddick also opined that Elena Rybakina needs a coach who can add a dash of humor to her box to diffuse tensions.
"Who has Goran worked with? With big, flat hitters who like to go through the court, right, with Cilic and Djokovic. And what does Rybakina need? Maybe a little bit of levity in her box. Maybe someone who has a sense of humor, every once in a while. So, on merit, it seems like an unbelievable fit. Certainly exciting," Roddick added.
Ivanisevic is yet to start working with Rybakina, with the Kazakh currently competing at the year-end WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Croat is slated to take charge of Rybakina's coaching duties and responsibilities from the start of the 2025 season.
Elena Rybakina got off to a losing start at the 2024 WTA Finals
At the ongoing 2024 WTA Finals, World No. 5 Elena Rybakina started her campaign with a 6-7(5), 4-6 loss to Jasmine Paolini on Saturday, November 2. While Rybakina, in typical fashion, served big and fired eight aces, Paolini was slightly more clinical when it came to converting break point opportunities.
The Italian made the most of two out of five break point chances that she engineered, while the Kazakh could only convert one out of five of her own. Up next for Rybakina in Riyadh is a clash against Zheng Qinwen on Monday, November 4.
The match against Zheng is likely to be a crucial one for Rybakina in her quest to reach the semifinals. Her last group phase encounter at the event is set to be against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.