Elena Rybakina leads Kazakhstan through United Cup opener, talks new coach Goran Ivanisevic

Elena Rybakina made a winning start to the 2025 season on Friday, leading Kazakhstan to a 2-1 United Cup victory over Spain.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion made quick work of Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in singles and partnered countryman Alexander Shevchenko to win a dramatic mixed doubles match, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 10-7 to give Kazakhstan the early advantage in group play.

WATCH: Goran Ivanisevic previews new coaching arrangement with Elena Rybakina

United Cup marks the first official tournament since Rybakina, who kicked off a milestone 100th consecutive week in the Top 10 on Monday, began working with coach Goran Ivanisevic, a fellow former Wimbledon winner who was the longtime coach of Novak Djokovic.

There is a lot of things I can improve, and we’re working a little bit in everything. It’s so difficult to straight away come here and play, so slowly, I think we’ll see the result of the work. Elena Rybakina on new coach Goran Ivanisevic

Rybakina announced the partnership with Ivanisevic during the WTA Finals last fall, having abruptly split with coach Stefano Vukov ahead of the US Open in August.

“We did preparation for a couple of weeks, and we’re still now getting to know each other better,” she said on court after defeating Bouzas Maneiro, 6-2, 6-3. “There is a lot of things I can improve, and we’re working a little bit in everything. It’s so difficult to straight away come here and play, so slowly, I think we’ll see the result of the work.”

Ivanisevic previewed his work with Rybakina earlier in the afternoon, the former world No. 2 hoping to hone the Kazakh’s aggressive instincts in 2025.

“We worked a couple weeks in Dubai, a little bit on the serve, and a little bit I’m trying to push her to come more to the net,” he said in a sideline interview before the match. “She has a big game and she can finish the point much earlier than she usually does.

“But it’s a process. She needs to put in her head that she can play more aggressively, come to the net and finish points with the volleys.”

The process appeared to be working in mixed doubles when Rybakina showed off some deft touch at net en route to the mixed doubles win over Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Pablo Carreño Busta.

Rybakina and Team Kazakhstan will next face a formidable Greek team led by Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas in their second group match in Perth.