HALLE, WESTPHALIA/STARNBERG, June 18, 2025
He was at the heart of one of Wimbledon’s most unforgettable fairytales. In 2001, Goran Ivanisevic, seemingly a long shot as a wild card entry, achieved his lifelong dream at the All England Club. After losing three previous finals, the “King of Aces” finally triumphed, defeating Australia’s Patrick Rafter in a dramatic showdown to claim the Wimbledon crown. It happened on the “People’s Monday,” a third-week finale triggered by weather delays and marked by an uncharacteristically festive atmosphere. “That’s the day I always think back to,” says Ivanisevic, now a national hero in Croatia.
Soon, he’ll return to the hallowed grass courts of Wimbledon—but this time not as a player. He’s now part of the team behind Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas, looking to reignite the 26-year-old’s form, starting with the grass season. Before Wimbledon, the focus is firmly on results at the ATP 500 grass-court tournament, the 32nd TERRA WORTMANN OPEN in Halle.
Tsitsipas took a narrow win in his opening round, battling past Italian Luciano Darderi 6–4, 3–6, 7–6 (7–5). Ivanisevic, watching attentively from beyond Centre Court, was pragmatic: “A win is a win. There are no beauty points in tennis.” But the former World No. 2 and long-time rival of Boris Becker was also clear in his assessment: “Stefanos isn’t where he should be.”
Currently ranked World No. 25, Tsitsipas, in Ivanisevic’s view, belongs much higher—among the Top 10. “He lost touch a bit recently,” Ivanisevic admitted, “but with his talent, he’s a world-class player who should scare anyone.”
So far, Tsitsipas’ 2025 season has been rocky, save for a title win at the stylish Dubai Aviation Club. A disappointing second-round exit at the French Open—losing to Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante—prompted a short break to reset. That’s when he started working with Ivanisevic in Zagreb, combining intense training sessions with the mental boost of a new voice in his corner.
“He needs to believe in himself again and rebuild his confidence,” says the 53-year-old Ivanisevic. “That doesn’t happen overnight. You can’t expect miracles—but you can expect progress.” Speaking to Croatian broadcaster HRT, Ivanisevic put it bluntly: “I’m not Harry Potter.”
A former World No. 2 and longtime coach to Novak Djokovic, Ivanisevic is a familiar and welcome face in Halle. Over the years, he’s entertained crowds at the “Champions Trophy” legends matches, winning hearts with his humor and showmanship. “Goran is a true fan favorite,” says tournament director Ralf Weber. In 2023, he partnered with Andrei Medvedev to face crowd-pleasers Mansour Bahrami and Tommy Haas.
Now, though, Ivanisevic is back in the thick of the tour grind—not as a performer, but as motivator and strategist for Tsitsipas. “I have no doubt he’ll return to the top,” Ivanisevic insists, looking ahead to Tsitsipas’ round of 16 match against US-American Alex Michelsen.
The “King of Aces” is back—and he’s on a mission.
