Elena Rybakina has hired a new coach following the departure of Goran Ivanisevic as the world No. 5 hired 1998 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Davide Sanguinetti to her team.
After announcing that Stefano Vukov was rejoining her team in early January, the early rumors suggested that Ivanisevic would leave the Kazakh's team after the Australian Open.
And exactly that happened, while Vukov is still not allowed to officially coach because the WTA's investigation into his conduct is still ongoing.
While Rybakina is still waiting to see what will happen with the 37-year-old, she added a new voice to her team.
Sanguinetti, a former two-time ATP champion, most notably worked with former world No. 1 Dinara Safina and he also had stints with Vincent Spadea, Go Soeda and Brandon Nakashima.
We just did one week of preparation with him, Rybakina told AFP.
I knew him a little bit from before. So he was actually available. Well see how it goes but for now Im happy with the way we worked this week and hopefully it goes well for us. But again, its something you need to take time [with] and get used to each other.
Ivanisevic left Rybakina's team shortly after her Australian Open run ended
In their first Grand Slam as a duo, the Kazakh tennis star made the round-of-16 before losing to eventual champion Madison Keys.
A day after the 25-year-old concluded her run at Melbourne Park, the 2001 Wimbledon champion announced he was leaving her team.
"After our trial period that finished with Australian Open, I wish Elena and her team best of luck moving forward," Ivanisevic announced through Instagram.
Meanwhile, Rybakina's first tournament with Sanguinetti comes at this week's Abu Dhabi Open, where she is the defending champion and has a first-round bye.
Although their partnership is just starting, it will be interesting to see what happens with the Italian coach if Vukov is allowed to return.
