Novak Djokovic may have won the offseason after making the biggest coaching switch of all, hiring former rival Andy Murray, who retired from professional tennis over the summer, to his team.
But the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, also made a major move of his own, swapping the ATP Tour for the WTA Tour as he joined forces with world No. 6 Elena Rybakina during the offseason—and their new partnership has earned Djokovic’s stamp of approval.
Read More: Elena Rybakina hits the practice court with new coach Goran Ivanisevic in Dubai
Djokovic said he was thrilled to hear his former coach had teamed up with one of their favorite WTA players, telling press in Brisbane that he and Ivanisevic regularly enjoyed watching Rybakina’s matches.
“I was actually happy, because… we actually like Rybakina, the way she plays and how she is as a person,” Djokovic revealed. “When Goran used to work with me, we always liked to watch her play.
“So I was happy to hear the news that they are together. Hopefully Goran can contribute in a positive way to her game, to her success… I wish them all the best.”
