Novak Djokovic has Boris Becker, Roger Federer has Stefan Edberg, Kei Nishikori has Michael Chang, and now Marin Cilic has brought Goran Ivanisevic to the Arena named after the man he infamously defeated to clinch the 2001 Wimbledon crown.
After last year’s Brisbane champion Andy Murray added former great Ivan Lendl to his tennis bag in 2012, ensued by a mountain of successes, big-name coaches have explicably become the hot property on the men’s tour in 2014, and Cilic says the edge is all in the experience.
“I would say the ex-players would be the perfect fit for coaches, because they know everything that the player goes through and they felt it on the court, not once but hundreds of times,” Cilic said.
The 25-year-old believes when it comes to the end of a tournament, everyone knows how to play tennis, but it’s in the mental game that these expert coaches can bring out tangible success.
“In those critical situations on the court they know what a player needs to do,” he said.
“Just to transfer their knowledge is a great help, especially with Goran who was there at the top and just by his experience he can teach me things that he did wrong so that I don’t do them and that’s already a lot.”
Ivanisevic has always been a friend on the phone for Cilic – who has slipped from world No.9 to No.37 after six months out of the game – originally linking the Croatian to his long-time coach Bob Brett at the beginning of his career.
It was the charismatic Ivanisevic who wanted to be more involved in his countryman’s career and at the close of 2013 Cilic said a more formal coach-player relationship was a natural progression, and one he couldn’t be happier with.
“I think so far everything is working really nice. We had great preparation in Croatia and then now it’s just to put the things in place when I’m playing matches,” he said.
“In practice he’s really relaxed and very funny, as you know, and very simple, so we are working hard but everything is in a great mood and we are all the time relaxed so I’m enjoying time especially with him.”
The Ivanisevic edge will be put to the test today when Cilic takes on last year’s finalist and all-court talent Grigor Dimitrov, who he is yet to play but admits he’s been keeping an eye on during his quick rise up the rankings.
“I followed his success in this last couple of years and his movement on the rankings. I think he’s a very promising player and he’s going to have for sure a very good future on the tour,” he said.
“It’s hard for me to expect something because I’ve never played him. Of course I’ve watched him but it’s different when you come on the court. I’m just going to try to do my own game and we’ll see how that’s going to fit.”
Ivanisevic might not be a fan favourite on Pat Rafter Arena, but Cilic, enjoying his first time in Brisbane, is hoping to keep the fans onside.
“It was great to play in front of full crowds and only positive things, nothing bad so far, so I’m enjoying my time over here.”
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