Goran Ivanišević was born on September 13, 1971, in Split, Croatia, and is a name associated with powerful serves and miraculous comebacks in the world of tennis. From celebrated player to successful coach, his journey reflects deep passion and commitment to the sport.
Early Life and Rise in Tennis
Ivanišević started his tennis in Split, being an exceptionally talented young player. He turned professional in 1988, and almost from the beginning of his professional career, his mighty left-hand service made him one of the leading aces and an object of terror on the courts.
Career Highlights
The crowning glory of them all was the Grand Slam regarding in 2001 when, as a wild-card entrant into Wimbledon, he won the competition-a first in tennis history. Ranked world No. 125 at the time of his victory, it spoke volumes about the resilience of the man and his skill.
ATP Titles: Ivanišević collected 22 singles and 9 doubles, his best ranking, world No. 2 was on 4 July 1994.
Davis Cup: He was part of the national team in 2005 that won, thereby adding another great team honor to his individual ones.
Transitioned into Coaching
Since retiring from tennis in 2004, Ivanišević has coached and shared his broad knowledge and experience with players from the younger generation.
Marin Čilić: From 2013 through 2016, Ivanišević was the coach for his compatriot, Marin Čilić, during his historic first-ever Grand Slam title in the 2014 US Open.
Novak Djokovic: Ivanišević joined the coaching team of Novak Djokovic in 2019. During this collaboration, Djokovic won several Grand Slam titles, therefore extending their records in tennis history. This fruitful collaboration ended in March 2024.
Elena Rybakina: Ivanišević started this new chapter in November 2024 as the coach of the 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, his first serious foray into coaching on the WTA Tour, underlining versatility and devotion of this athlete to the sport.
Philosophy and Impact in Coaching
Famed for one of the biggest serves in the game and known for his mental toughness, he always adds these qualities to his coaching whenever he steps out on the tennis court. Having worked with Djokovic, they have witnessed firsthand the unparalleled rise of his Serbian serve and the strategy of a critical game, this same union will now finally make Rybakina more aggressive on court and have her movements take on different proportions.
Recent Developments
First teamings between Ivanišević and Rybakina began in January of 2025, with the pairing being expected to make big news for this season. Yet another sensation is that Novak Djokovic had some changes reveal a new coaching combination that has gone into the 2025 season while being able to pair with the former rival Andy Murray.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered to be the greatest achievement of Goran Ivanišević as a player?
What separated him in tennis history was winning the 2001 Wimbledon Championships as a wildcard entrant.
Which top players does Ivanišević coach?
A legendary name itself in the courts, he coaches both Marin Čilić and Novak Djokovic, even Elena Rybakina currently.
what is famous about Ivanišević’s playing?
Of course, about his aggressive game and left hand playing, which is particularly effectual for grass courts.
When does Ivanišević retire professionally?
He retired from active tennis in 2004 after over a decade in the sport.
What are some of the notable accolades that Ivanišević has to his name since retirement?
The result is that he earned induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, class of 2020, through his merits within the game.
