Latest news with #Ivanisevic
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Wimbledon champion ripped apart as row breaks out after harsh six-word comment
Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic has been criticised by a fellow coach after comments he made about his client Stefanos Tsitsipas' performance at the 2025 tournament Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic has come under fire for his harsh criticism of Stefanos Tsitsipas following the latter's early departure from Wimbledon this year. The 26-year-old was forced to retire due to a back injury in the first round at SW19, while two sets down against France's Valentin Royer. Tsitsipas, currently ranked 26th in the world, had enlisted Ivanisevic as his coach in May, hoping to gain the wisdom the Croatian had imparted to Novak Djokovic before their split in 2024. Despite bringing the 2001 Wimbledon champion on board, Tsitsipas suffered his third first-round exit in the last four Grand Slams. Following Tsitsipas' withdrawal from Wimbledon due to injury, Ivanisevic criticised his client's preparation and harshly declared: "I'm three times fitter than him." However, Patrick Mouratoglou, who coached Tsitsipas from 2018 to 2021, has accused Ivanisevic of failing his duties by publicly berating the player. "Goran going to the press and criticising his player is not coaching," Mouratoglou stated in an Instagram video. "Even more, at that time, they've just started to work together, so no trust is made. You're already killing the person publicly. "When Goran accepts the job, he knows that Stefanos probably doesn't do things the right way or things need to change, but that's the job. He arrives at a bad moment, but he knows it's a bad moment. It's not a surprise. If you look at the results of Stefanos for one year, they're not even close to what he was doing before. So he knows it's a difficult moment. "You accept it or you don't accept it. These difficult moments can create wrong behaviours. This is what you need to bring back to good behaviours. "In a way, it makes me feel that [Ivanisevic] is ashamed of the result and he wants to separate himself from Stefanos to say, 'It's not me, I'm good.' He is not good. That's his fault. So yeah, for a coach to see this, for me it's painful to see it." Despite retiring in 2004, Ivanisevic reckoned that he was in better shape than Tsitsipas for his match at the All England Club. The Greek star has reached two Grand Slam finals and once held the No.3 world ranking, but Ivanisevic has argued that the player has some issues to iron out before getting his career back on track. "It's both simple and not simple," Ivanisevic told Serbian outlet Sport Klub, as reported by TNT Sports. "I've spoken to him several times. If he resolves certain off-court issues, he'll have a chance to return to where he belongs, because he's too good to be outside the top 10. "He says he wants to [return to the top level], but he's not doing anything. It's always 'I want, I want,' but I don't see any progress. I was shocked; I've never seen a more unprepared player in my life. With this knee, I'm three times fitter than him. It's really bad." "It's always 'I want, I want,' but I don't see any progress. I was shocked; I've never seen a more unprepared player in my life. With this knee, I'm three times fitter than him. This is really bad." Tsitsipas opened up about his ordeal after his underwhelming performance at Wimbledon, linking his downturn to a back injury sustained during the 2023 ATP Finals and lamenting his struggle to find a solution. "It's tough to describe. I'm battling many wars these days," an emotional Tsitsipas admitted "Since [the 2023 ATP Finals], I've been very fragile with my body, and I've been battling a war of feeling healthy and feeling comfortable going to the extremes, which has been a difficult battle. So I really don't know. I feel like I'm left without answers. I don't know. I've tried everything. "I've done an incredible job with my fitness. I've done an incredible job with my physiotherapy, so I've maximised on everything that I possibly can do. Right now, I'm just absolutely left with no answers. I don't know what to do."
Metro
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Novak Djokovic names the two 'favourites' to win Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic has rejected his former coach's claims that he is the 'favourite' to win Wimbledon. Goran Ivanisevic, who coached Djokovic to many Grand Slam titles and won Wimbledon himself in 2001, recently claimed the 38-year-old was the man to beat in SW19. Djokovic is bidding to equal Roger Federer's tally of eight Wimbledon titles and become the first player in history to win 25 Grand Slam singles titles. The Serbian legend has enjoyed a relatively stress-free run to the quarter-finals, dropping just two sets in his first four wins at the All England Club. Djokovic's latest four-set win came against Alex de Minaur after the Australian number one stunned Centre Court by taking the opener 6-1. Speaking earlier this week, Ivanisevic claimed the player he used to coach was the 'favourite' to triumph at Wimbledon come Sunday evening. 'Here [at Wimbledon], I see his chance,' Ivanisevic told Clay Tennis. 'Looking at the draw, I don't think no one can beat Djokovic before the semis. 'He's never lost to [potential semi-final opponent] Jannik Sinner here. OK, Australian Open and Roland Garros, but here Novak's beaten him twice. 'In my view, Novak's the favourite, no matter how sentimental that sounds. Alcaraz has beaten him twice, but last year Novak came after knee surgery, and in 2023 we all remember how close it was. 'Everyone says this is his last chance – I don't agree. Plus, he's the best grass-court player, experienced, he knows exactly what it takes here. It'll be fascinating.' Ivanisevic's comments were put to Djokovic following his fourth-round win and while the veteran appreciated the support, he disagreed. Tuesday, 8th July Taylor Fritz vs Karen Khachanov Cameron Norrie vs Carlos Alcaraz Wednesday, 9th July Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton Flavio Cobolli vs Novak Djokovic Instead, Djokovic views two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner as the two 'favourites' for the title. 'I love Goran, and I'm happy he loves me back, but I don't think I'm a favourite against these guys at the moment,' Djokovic admitted. 'I think they are, both of them. 'But I do probably have my best chance here against them here, yeah. If it comes down to me facing one of them or two of them, which I hope so, it means I would proceed to the final and then yeah, I'll obviously look for my best game to win. 'I do think have a chance. There's no doubt about it. I think my results on grass even in the previous years are a testament to my confidence on this surface. 'I've been playing some really good tennis this year. So I feel good about myself. I feel confident. I feel motivated to go all the way. Let's see what happens. Alcaraz was taken to five sets by the retiring Fabio Fognini in his opener but has looked commanding since then, beating the dangerous Andrey Rublev last time out. Sinner, meanwhile, had not dropped a set before he was handed a walkover in a match against Gregor Dimitrov in which he was two sets behind. More Trending Dimitrov looked on course to stun the three-time Grand Slam champion but then had to retire in the third set through injury. It was a fortunate break for Sinner as he bids to win Wimbledon for the first time but he too was struggling with an injury concern that he will hope settles down before his quarter-final. Sinner faces America's world number ten Ben Shelton for a place in the semi-finals, while defending champion Alcaraz takes on Great Britain's Cameron Norrie. Djokovic is set to meet Italy's Flavio Cobolli – contesting his first Grand Slam quarter-final – while Taylor Fritz comes up against Karen Khachanov. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Andy Murray slams 'ridiculous' Wimbledon decision during Jannik Sinner match MORE: Wimbledon star leaves BBC presenter Annabel Croft red-faced in interview MORE: Marin Cilic hits out at Wimbledon over two decisions after 'bitter' exit
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Novak Djokovic favourite to win Wimbledon, says Goran Ivanisevic, who says peak Nadal would beat Alcaraz and Sinner on clay court
Not many are sure about Novak Djokovic's chances at winning his 25th Grand Slam title by lifting the Wimbledon trophy, especially due to the presence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, but his former coach Goran Ivanisevic is confident. 'Looking at the draw, I don't think no one can beat Djokovic before the semis, and he's never lost to Sinner here,' Ivanisevic told Clay. 'OK, Australian Open and Roland Garros, but here Novak's beaten him twice. In my view, Novak's the favorite, no matter how sentimental that sounds. Alcaraz has beaten him twice, but last year Novak came after knee surgery, and in 2023 we all remember how close it was. Everyone says this is his last chance — I don't agree. Plus, he's the best grass-court player, experienced, he knows exactly what it takes here. It'll be fascinating.' Ivanisevic also spoke about the experience of watching Djokovic play at Wimbledon without the pressure of being his coach. 'The other day he and Tsitsipas practiced together. It was a joy to watch, especially now that I'm on the other side. When I was his coach, it was great, but you're always focused — what will he say, what to look for. Now I could just enjoy it. Such ease of movement, ease of play — the ball flies at 300 km/h thanks to his technique and timing. If you look at that, he can play until LA. 'Motivation is another matter — showing up, training — he's 38. But here, he looks ready, playing well, I get the sense he sees his opportunity. He just has to manage the nerves — sometimes that… I won't say it 'eats him up,' but it affects his execution. And it's not his last chance — he has a shot at the US Open too. In Melbourne this year — if he hadn't gotten injured, no way Zverev beats him, and the final with Sinner would have been interesting.' Ivanisevic also rubbished theories that Alcaraz or Sinner would beat peak Rafael Nadal on clay courts. 'I see people saying Nadal would have no chance against Alcaraz or Sinner, but that's nonsense. I'd bet on peak Nadal against either Carlos or Jannik. Playing Nadal is different — he's a lefty, the ball bounces differently.' Beyond Djokovic, Ivanisevic was asked about the immediate future in tennis, namely whether anyone else can beat Alcaraz or Sinner. 'At a smaller event — maybe. At a Slam — no. I don't see anyone who can do that — unless someone beats them up the night before (laughter). I don't see how. Look at the Australian Open final — you had Zverev, world No. 3, a phenomenal player, and that final was a joke — Sascha had zero chance. Then you see the Roland Garros final — that was otherworldly tennis. The only one who can come between them is Novak. Maybe I'm a bit emotional, but he's a contender to win.
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘I'm three times fitter than him' – Tsitsipas brutally told not to play tennis by coach and former Wimbledon champ, 53
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS has been branded "unfit" and "a disaster" by his own coach Goran Ivanisevic. Former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic, 53, only began working with the Greek at the start of the grass court season. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas only recently began working with Goran Ivanisevic Credit: Getty Images 5 Tsitsipas, 26, retired while down two sets in round one Credit: Getty Images Having hired the ex-coach of Novak Djokovic, Tsitsipas would have been hoping for a big run in SW19. But the 26-year-old crashed out in round one, retiring while down 6-3 6-2 to French qualifier Valentin Royer. Ivanisevic watched the match from courtside having worked with Tsitsipas ahead of the tournament. Speaking to Clay Magazine, the Croatian was asked if he had spoken to the former world No3 since the match. READ MORE WIMBLEDON HEALTH WORRY Wimbledon ball kid removed from court as umpire is forced to ask for help Pulling no punches, Ivanisevic said: "I told him not to play tennis right now. "He needs to fix his back and get physically fit because physically he's a disaster. "I can't understand how a player of his level can be so unfit. After that, he can think about playing tennis again." Continuing his scathing assessment, Ivanisevic added: "I didn't expect him to do well. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 5 Ivanisevic shares a joke with his former player Novak Djokovic Credit: Getty Images "His situation is clear: if he changes certain things on the court, and above all off the court, he'll be fine. "But if he doesn't manage to change those things, then he doesn't have a chance. Tennis 'cry baby' Tsitsipas sits down and refuses to play after umpire row as he's told 'it might help if you listen' "To be honest, tennis is the least of his problems. The other stuff is much bigger. I'm sure Stefanos is a top 10 player. He's played two Slam finals, won Masters titles, the ATP a great player. "The only question is how much he wants it. I believe in him being between fifth and 10th [in the rankings]. But if he keeps going like this, no chance." Following his defeat to Royer, Tsitsipas revealed that he has been suffering with back issues since the 2023 ATP Finals. The former two-time Grand Slam finalist has fallen to No26 in the world rankings, and no longer looks like a contender to win tournaments. 5 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19 Speaking about his new partnership with Ivanisevic, Tsitsipas said on Monday: "Oh, he's great. We're having a great time. "I am very disappointed that I wasn't able to show my potential the way I deserve to play on the court. It's not easy. It's not easy. "I feel like even if he gives me the most amount of confidence in the world, if I don't feel comfortable, if I don't feel good with myself and my body, then I can't really show anything." Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Tsitsipas has broken up with long-term girlfriend Paula Badosa. Reports surfaced just a day after both players crashed out of Wimbledon in round one. The pair began dating in May 2023, and briefly broke up last year before quickly reconciling.
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm three times fitter than him' – Tsitsipas brutally told not to play tennis by coach and former Wimbledon champ, 53
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS has been branded "unfit" and "a disaster" by his own coach Goran Ivanisevic. Former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic, 53, only began working with the Greek at the start of the grass court season. Advertisement 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas only recently began working with Goran Ivanisevic Credit: Getty Images 5 Tsitsipas, 26, retired while down two sets in round one Credit: Getty Images Having hired the ex-coach of Novak Djokovic, But the 26-year-old Ivanisevic watched the match from courtside having worked with Tsitsipas ahead of the tournament. Speaking to Advertisement READ MORE WIMBLEDON Pulling no punches, Ivanisevic said: "I told him not to play tennis right now. "He needs to fix his back and get physically fit because physically he's a disaster. "I can't understand how a player of his level can be so unfit. After that, he can think about playing tennis again." Continuing his scathing assessment, Ivanisevic added: "I didn't expect him to do well. Advertisement Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 5 Ivanisevic shares a joke with his former player Novak Djokovic Credit: Getty Images "His situation is clear: if he changes certain things on the court, and above all off the court, he'll be fine. "But if he doesn't manage to change those things, then he doesn't have a chance. Advertisement Tennis 'cry baby' Tsitsipas sits down and refuses to play after umpire row as he's told 'it might help if you listen' "To be honest, tennis is the least of his problems. The other stuff is much bigger. I'm sure Stefanos is a top 10 player. He's played two Slam finals, won Masters titles, the ATP a great player. "The only question is how much he wants it. I believe in him being between fifth and 10th [in the rankings]. But if he keeps going like this, no chance." Following his defeat to Royer, Tsitsipas revealed that he has been suffering with back issues since the 2023 ATP Finals. The former two-time Grand Slam finalist has fallen to No26 in the world rankings, and no longer looks like a contender to win tournaments. Advertisement 5 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - Speaking about his new partnership with Ivanisevic, Tsitsipas said on Monday: "Oh, he's great. We're having a great time. "I am very disappointed that I wasn't able to show my potential the way I deserve to play on the court. It's not easy. It's not easy. "I feel like even if he gives me the most amount of confidence in the world, if I don't feel comfortable, if I don't feel good with myself and my body, then I can't really show anything." Advertisement Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Tsitsipas Reports surfaced just a day after both players crashed out of Wimbledon in round one. The pair began dating in May 2023, and briefly broke up last year before quickly reconciling. 5 Tsitsipas had been dating Paula Badosa since May 2023 Credit: Getty images Advertisement
