Wimbledon

Ivanisevic to help Djokovic at Wimbledon

2019-06-30 20:38

Belgrade - Former Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic said on Sunday he will be helping Novak Djokovic during the tournament after joining the world number one's coaching team following a call out of the blue.

"It's all unusual, a rather unexpected call came a few days ago," Ivanisevic told Serbian reporters at the All England Club, according to sports channel sportklub online.

"I was a bit surprised, I travelled to Sweden. Nole (Djokovic) wanted me to come earlier but I had a senior tour agreed earlier.

"I arrived this morning for the first training session," the 47-year-old Croatian added.

"Unfortunately it seems I will be able to stay only for the first week since I have obligations again. I'm trying to postpone them," he said, adding that "when Novak Djokovic calls you, you put many things aside."

Ivanisevic, Wimbledon champion in 2001, said Djokovic's appeal was "a big recognition for me as a coach".

"The first training session was great, we hope that this cooperation will last."

Ivanisevic has previously coached his fellow countryman Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic of Canada.

Djokovic will be going for a fifth Wimbledon title when the tournament gets underway on Monday.

The 32-year-old Serbian opens against German Philipp Kohlschreiber whose best run at Wimbledon came in 2012 when he made the quarter-finals.

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Veoma sam zahvalan Goranu što je prihvatio da saradujemo na ovogodišnjem Wimbledon-u. Odrastao sam gledajuci ga kako igra na najvecim turnirima i navijao za njega iz sveg glasa, a sada ga imam na svojoj strani mreže. Verujem da je puno ljudi uzbudjeno zbog naše saradnje, a pogotovo jedan covek .. Sjor Niki Pilic. Dragi Niki, hvala ti što si mi dao priliku da Goranu nosim užinu dok se pripremao za svoj slavni trofej na Wimbledon-u 2001 godine. Hvala Marijanu koji je prihvatio sa pozovemo Gorana u naš tim i time ga još više ojacamo pred ovaj važan turnir. Idemooo ???? ????????? I am grateful to have Goran on my side of the net. We have agreed to collaborate at #Wimbledon and hopefully many more in the future. I am thankful to Marian for supporting the idea to invite Goran and strengthen our team ahead of this important tournament. I have grown up watching and supporting Goran. Niki Pilic allowed me to be Goran’s ball boy during his preparation in Niki’s academy for the famous Wimbledon trophy in 2001 - that was a dream come true for a young tennis player who looked up to Goran. Now we get to join forces in the quest here in London. Idemooo ????

A post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole) on

 

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