Current World No.7 Elena Rybakina has a new coach in her camp, Italian former World No.42 Davide Sanguinetti.
Rybakina’s coaching arrangements have been tumultuous, to say the least. She has faced public scrutiny over her continued involvement with former coach Stefano Vukov, with the WTA handing a one-year ban despite the former Wimbledon champion's continued support of him.
The Kazakh also had a short-lived coaching partnership with Goran Ivanišević from November of last year up until her fourth-round exit at the 2025 Australian Open.
2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick commented on the split and the news concerning Vukov on his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick.
"I don’t know, if you’re with someone and you care about that person and they have one of the best coaches in the world (Ivanišević) agreeing to work with them, it’s kind of selfish to put yourself in the middle of all that and have proximity in putting this out and making yourself part of the story," he said.
The American further proclaimed that the focus and attention of the tennis world should be on Rybakina and her tennis, not on Vukov.
"There’s something really cool there, this big, tall athlete who can move the way she does and strikes the ball so smoothly," Roddick stated.
"At the end of the day, that’s what we want to be focusing on, not this circus show of a dude who is inserting himself into the conversation."
However, Rybakina’s recent hiring of Sanguinetti prior to the Abu Dhabi Open could be the change that helps her get back to winning ways.
Sanguinetti has a high level of expertise in coaching WTA and ATP players, namely coaching former World No.1 Dinara Safina.
Rybakina reached the semi-finals in Abu Dhabi after a stunning three-set win against Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals. This performance has ignited public perception that she is on the right track with Sanguinetti by her side.
The 25-year-old most recently reached the last-eight at the Qatar Open, falling to Iga Świątek in straight sets.
"The goal is to win another Slam," Sanguinetti told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Someone like her cannot be satisfied with the victory at Wimbledon in 2022."
The Italian further maintained that he supports the collaboration with Vukov and working together in the best interest of Rybakina.
"Vukov and Elena are close; he will always be there," Sanguinetti shared.
"Stefano and I talk a lot; we are on the same wavelength. It’s not a problem to have two coaches; it’s almost a trend now."
Needless to say, the world will be closely watching Rybakina’s coaching camp throughout 2025, and if this new collaboration proves successful.
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