The tennis world was recently set abuzz when Stefanos Tsitsipas enlisted Goran Ivanisevic, former coach of Novak Djokovic, to join his team. This surprising partnership has sparked numerous questions, most notably: Will Ivanisevic share insights into Djokovic’s game, and how will this affect Tsitsipas’ performance?
A Swift Rejection of Rumors
Initially, Stefanos Tsitsipas quickly dismissed any rumors of teaming up with Goran Ivanisevic. This firm stance followed his exit from the Monte Carlo Masters tournament, where he made it clear that he was not entertaining any speculations linking him to Djokovic’s former coach. Tsitsipas emphasized his focus on his performance and upcoming matches, shutting down any distractions.
The U-Turn: Tsitsipas Enlists Ivanisevic
Despite his earlier denials, Tsitsipas has officially confirmed that Goran Ivanisevic is his new coach as the 2025 grass-court season commences. This decision marks a significant shift for the Greek star, who had recently fallen outside the world’s top 20 for the first time since 2018.
Tsitsipas admitted that he feels like he “wasted time” not bringing someone like Ivanisevic into his team sooner. He sounds “reborn” since forming the partnership and believes it should have happened years ago.
Djokovic’s Perspective
Novak Djokovic has publicly addressed Tsitsipas’ decision to bring Ivanisevic on board. Djokovic believes that Ivanisevic can assist Tsitsipas in gaining a “clear vision” regarding his tennis career. He noted Tsitsipas’ “ups and downs” and “doubts” in his tennis, expressing confidence that Ivanisevic can help him focus on the right things.
Starting from Scratch
Both Ivanisevic and Tsitsipas have clarified that their partnership is unique and distinct from Ivanisevic’s previous role with Djokovic. Tsitsipas emphasized that Ivanisevic is coaching him as if he were just starting to play tennis, which he sees as a “humbling experience”. Ivanisevic has also made it clear that he’s not coaching Novak Djokovic right now, and they are starting from scratch.
Ivanisevic’s Coaching Credentials
Goran Ivanisevic brings a wealth of experience to Tsitsipas’ team. He guided Marin Cilic to his 2014 US Open victory and served as Novak Djokovic’s head coach from 2019 to 2024. During his time with Djokovic, the Serbian secured 10 Grand Slam titles, with notable improvements to his serve. Ivanisevic is widely regarded as an expert in this area.
A Challenging Road Ahead
Despite the optimism surrounding this new partnership, Tsitsipas faces a challenging period. He has struggled in recent Grand Slam appearances and is entering the grass-court season, which is historically his least successful part of the tennis calendar.
Building a Strong Relationship
Tsitsipas is focused on building a strong relationship with Ivanisevic, both on and off the court. He believes Ivanisevic’s experience can help him rebuild his mindset as a player. Tsitsipas aims to learn from Ivanisevic’s vast experience and apply it to his game.
The Tennis World Watches
With both Djokovic and Ivanisevic supporting Tsitsipas, the tennis community is eagerly watching to see how this collaboration unfolds. The partnership has the potential to redefine Tsitsipas’ career trajectory.
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