When discussing the legends of Croatian tennis, one name stands out: Goran Ivanisevic. The 2001 Wimbledon champion became a major force in the sport, intimidating players like Pete Sampras and Boris Becker. Today, as a tennis coach, he continues to make an impact, most notably as part of Novak Djokovic‘s team, a legendary partnership in tennis history.
Ivanisevic turned professional in 1988, winning his first title that year in doubles alongside Rudiger Haas. He followed that up with a breakout performance in 1989, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open as a wildcard entrant.
One of the standout moments in his early ATP career came at Roland Garros, where he stunned German tennis legend Boris Becker in the first round. That victory marked the beginning of Ivanisevic’s rise as a key figure in international tennis.
The Croatian’s first singles title came in 1990 at the Hamburg Open, and he also contributed to Yugoslavia’s victory in the World Team Cup. Ivanisevic’s quest for greatness continued, and it all culminated in 1992 when he made his first Wimbledon final, a defining moment in his career.
Ivanisevic’s first Wimbledon final
For Ivanisevic, winning Wimbledon wasn’t an easy journey. The Croatian finally clinched the title after falling short three times previously, including a heartbreaking loss to Andre Agassi. Along the way, Ivanisevic had to overcome tennis legends like Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, and Stefan Edberg. However, a few mistakes in crucial moments kept him from achieving his goal, until his breakthrough year.
Despite the absence of a major title, Ivanisevic’s consistent performances helped him solidify his place as the world’s No. 2 player. His remarkable run at Wimbledon in 1994, where he reached the final only to lose to Sampras, played a significant part in his rise.
The decline and his only Grand Slam victory
Between 1999 and 2001, Ivanisevic struggled with a series of debilitating injuries, which hindered his career. However, in 2001, he made a stunning comeback at Wimbledon, entering the tournament as a wild card, ranked No. 125 in the world.
That year, Ivanišević shocked the tennis world by capturing his lone Grand Slam title. He triumphed over the likes of Carlos Moya, Andy Roddick, and Marat Safin. In a gripping final, Ivanisevic defeated Australian Patrick Rafter, securing his first and only Wimbledon title, ironically, towards the twilight of his career.
Sampras vs. Ivanisevic
Ivanisevic faced Sampras 18 times in his career, with the American leading their head-to-head 12-6. This rivalry remains memorable for Ivanisevic, especially since Sampras defeated him in two of the four Wimbledon finals Ivanisevic reached.
Becker vs. Ivanisevic
Ivanisevic also had a memorable rivalry with German legend Boris Becker, who edged out Ivanisevic 10-9 in their head-to-head record. Besides their Roland Garros encounter, Ivanisevic won 5 of their 19 consecutive matches between 1997 and 1998. Despite this, Becker triumphed in all three of the Grand Slam finals the two players contested.
Ivanisevic’s coaching career with Djokovic
After retiring from competitive tennis in 2004, following a brief hiatus from 2002 to 2004 due to injury Ivanisevic transitioned to coaching. After a short stint playing soccer in Croatia, he began his coaching career in 2013.
His first major success came with Marin Cilic, leading him to a US Open title. Ivanisevic continued his coaching journey with Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonic before reaching the pinnacle of his career with Novak Djokovic in 2019. Under his guidance, Djokovic captured 18 titles, including nine Grand Slam victories, making Ivanisevic one of the few people in tennis history to win Wimbledon both as a player and as a coach.