The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Djokovic hopes Goran link-up leads to titles
Novak Djokovic hopes Goran Ivanisevic can propel him towards a fifth Wimbledon title and beyond.
World No 1 Djokovic has recruited former SW19 winner Ivanisevic to work alongside coach Marian Vajda as they plot his assault on this year’s championships.
Djokovic won six grand slam titles when he was coached by threetime Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, and he wants to harness the experience of another course and distance winner over the next fortnight.
“I called Goran and asked him whether he’s available to come to Wimbledon and sort of give it a try, and have a little bit of a trial type of tournament where we get to know each other and see how it works,” said Djokovic.
“I’m really glad he accepted and came over. I don’t know if he will be able to stay for the whole tournament, it depends how I go. He’s got some commitments in the second week.”
The new team got off to a winning start yesterday, despite a wobble or two, as defending champion Djokovic wore down Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber in three sets.
The Serbian, widely expected to enjoy another trouble-free run to this year’s final, dropped serve at the start of the first two sets but recovered from those early blips to run out a 6-3 7-5 6-3 winner.
Meanwhile Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, the supposed next generation of men’s tennis, were shock casualties in the first round .
Djokovic’s potential path to the final looks even clearer after the young guns, both in the defending champion’s half of the draw, fired blanks.
Sixth seed Zverev went down in four sets to qualifier Jiri Vesely, the world No 124.
The 22-year-old slipped at a crucial moment to give away two match points, and then netted the first as Czech Vesely celebrated a surprise 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5 triumph.
Around 20 minutes later Tsitsipas, having saved two match points in the fourth set, succumbed to the third as he was turfed out 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-7 (8) 6-3 by Italian Thomas Fabbiano.
Zverev and Tsitsipas are supposedly at the head of the pack attempting to chase down Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. On this evidence the big three are still a long way in the lead.
Last year’s runner-up Kevin Anderson eased into round two after a straight-sets win over PierreHugues Herbert, Andy Murray’s doubles partner.
The big-serving South African, who 12 months ago shocked Federer in the quarter-final and then came through a marathon five-setter against John Isner, won 6-3 6-4 6-2.
Three-time grand-slam winner Stan Wawrinka made short work of Belgian Ruben Bemelmans, the Swiss roaring to a 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory in less than an hour and a half.
Ivo Karlovic is still going strong at 40, beating Italian Andrea Arnaboldi 6-4 6-4 7-6 (4).
The Croatian, the oldest man to play in the singles event since Ken Rosewall in 1975, will face Fabbiano in round two.
Today eight-time champion Roger Federer begins his search for a ninth crown when he faces South African Lloyd George Harris on Centre Court, while No 3 seed Rafael Nadal, without a Wimbledon title since 2010, heads to Court One to take on Japan’s Yuichi Sugita.