Global Courant
“People don’t know it, but I’ve been torturing them these two weeks. Thank you for your patience and for believing in me.” Novak Djokovic’s words, minutes after winning his 23rd Grand Slam at Roland Garros, were addressed to his family and his team. Especially to his coach Goran Ivanisevic, who joined his team in mid-2019 and became his main ally on the road to immortality, but also in the hard moments of the last seasons. The Croatian became the adviser behind the racket monster; the master behind the legend.
Born in Split 51 years ago, as a player, Ivanisevic came to occupy the second step of the ranking and won a Grand Slam, Wimbledon 2001. After retiring in 2004, he had a brief stint on the ATP Senior circuit -in which he used to delight to people with his hilarious performances – and then he began his coaching career. He worked with his compatriot Marin Cilic, the Czech Tomas Berdych and the Canadian Milos Raonic, until in June 2019, he began to collaborate with Djokovic. First, he shared his task with Marian Vajda, who had accompanied the Serb since its inception. And in March 2022, he was left as the main coach.
Since his arrival, Nole lived four seasons as successful as they were complicated. He conquered eight “big ones”, including three in 2021 (Australia, Roland Garros and Wimbledon), the year in which he was one game away from achieving an unprecedented achievement, the calendar Grand Slam and the defeat in the US Open final against Daniil Medvedev. prevented it. But he was also the center of criticism -and even death threats- for his attitudes during the coronavirus pandemic (especially by the organization of the Aria Tour) and he lived through very hard moments with the deportation from Australia last year and the exclusion of several important tournaments. for his refusal to vaccinate against Covid-19.
On Sunday, while Nole confessed his torture in front of a crowded Philippe Chatrier, Ivanisevic smiled and nodded, confirming his pupil. Shortly after, he himself told what it is really like to work with an extraordinary talent like the Serbian.
“He chained us with handcuffs for three days,” he said, cracking a smile to convey the joking tone of his statement. “Let’s just say that he’s not an easy guy, especially when something doesn’t go his way. But we’re here to put our backs and for him to beat us… That’s what the team is for, to make him feel better and make him perform better. A Sometimes it’s very complicated. But this is what you live for, for tournaments and results like this.”
“The road to Roland Garros was not easy. He was not in his best shape or with the best confidence. And he tortured us, pulled our nails out. Many other things, but I can’t tell you that. But we’re still here, we’re alive. My heart is still good,” the Croatian continued, joking but hinting at how hard life with the Serb can be.
“For him, there’s always something to improve. He gets up and says ‘My backhand didn’t work yesterday, so we have to work on the backhand.’ Actually, the backhand came out perfect, but we worked on the backhand. Then it’s the serve… “There is something new every day. Novak is a perfectionist, a genius whose mind is always missing something. I am very proud of him.”
Why does the Djokovic-Ivanisevic partnership work? On the one hand, because they share a common origin: both were born in the former Yugoslavia. For many it is rare to see that there is harmony between a Serb and a Croat, since their countries clashed in the Balkan War, which gave rise to a rivalry that continues to this day. But for them, that’s a positive.
“Goran comes from Croatia, I am from Serbia. We both come from the country that was once called Yugoslavia. He is a great guy, a friend. We speak the same language, we come from very similar cultures,” Djokovic explained when the media and some fans Serbs criticized him for adding Goran to his team and even called him a “traitor”.
Vajda, Djokovic and Ivanisevic, in June 2019, when the partnership between the Serb and the Croat was just beginning. Facebook photo
The Serb is a staunch defender of his country; but he also has a part of his heart in Croatia, because his mother Dijana was born there. And whenever he can, he speaks in favor of brotherhood and peace among the Balkan nations.
The relationship between Nole and Goran was born long before they joined forces four years ago. “We’ve known each other since I was 12. I was a ball boy in his training before Wimbledon 2001. That was a dream come true because I grew up watching him play. He was one of my idols. And then I followed him in his early years as a coach.”
“We have a very good relationship. It helps us to share the language and the fact that we are both from close countries. I am very positive and direct with him and the demand we have on each other is maximum. We are talking about a player for him. “Getting to the final of a big tournament and losing is a total failure. You have to know how to handle that constant stress,” Ivanisevic said at the beginning of 2020, revealing another reason for the success of the collaboration.
The direct style of the Croatian, who doesn’t mince words when it comes to criticizing or pointing out the number 1’s mistakes, fits perfectly with a Serb obsessed with excellence.
“I am very positive and direct with him and the demand we have on each other is maximum,” Ivanisevic once recounted. Photo AP Photo/Zvonko Kucelin
“Goran’s philosophy has always been ‘Less is more’. He tries to give the right information to the player and then understand how a player can really benefit from that. He likes to keep things simple. And that works well. He’s been a big part of it. of my growth as a tennis player. Having him in my corner is a great honor and a great pleasure”, Djokovic said some time ago.
Shortly after joining Nole’s team, Ivanisevic said: “My goal is to help him become the best tennis player in history.” When seasons later, after living enormous joys and very hard moments, the Croatian can say that he fulfilled his goal. Because on Sunday at Roland Garros, Djokovic became the greatest Grand Slam winner and, for many, the best tennis player of all time. And he can boast of being one of those responsible for this historical milestone. The coach behind the legend.
A racket character
Goran Ivanisevic is a true “character” in the world of tennis and was a player with a strong personality, exuding charisma and who used to make headlines for some curious and even controversial attitudes.
One of the most unusual anecdotes of his career occurred in November 2000, when he had already passed his best years and was ranked 134th. In the tournament in Brighton, England, he faced Korean Hyung Taik Lee in the second round and ended up being disqualified in the third set for “lack of proper equipment.” What happened? He had smashed all three rackets he had brought onto the court and couldn’t get another one to continue the match.
Ivanisevic, a charismatic and controversial player, after winning his only Grand Slam as a player, at Wimbledon 2001. Photo AFP PHOTO/ANJA NIEDRINGHAUS
He was also a talented tennis player, who won 22 trophies, the last one, Wimbledon 2001, his only Grand Slam that he added in his fourth final in London (he had played in 1992, 1994 and 1998). That year, he entered as a wild card (he was 125th in the ranking), surprised Marat Safin (3rd) in the quarterfinals and defeated Patrick Rafter (10th) in the decisive instance in five sets.
In addition, he won two Olympic medals in Barcelona 1992, the bronzes in singles and doubles, and was considered one of the best servers on the circuit.
What’s more, shortly after his arrival at the team, Marian Vajda, Djokovic’s lifelong coach, recounted that the first aspect of the Serb’s game in which he saw Goran’s hand was the serve.
“Novak’s serve is much more fluid and energetic before hitting the ball, thus increasing the speed of the ball and allowing him to hit it with greater precision. Not only is he hitting more aces, but he has gained confidence with that shot,” he explained. vajda. “What Ivanisevic brings is great.”
