Mark Nixon · @markalannixon
2nd Jul 2014 from TwitLonger
Interview with Goran Ivanišević, the coach of Marin Čilić, in l'Equipe: (We didn't think of you as a coach while you were playing) To be honest, I didn't either. When you're playing, you think of your training, your matches, your tournaments. It's tennis, tennis, tennis. But after a while it gives you a love for the sport and then a desire to pass it on to others. I always liked helping kids. But it took ten years before I came back to the tour.
(Could you have coached a player other than Marin?) Maybe. But this was the best solution because I've known him since he was 14½. I introduced him to Bob (Brett, his old Australian coach), I followed his career, I was helping him, and working with him is easy. He's one of the nicest guys I know. He listens, we speak the same language, everything's easy. When he asked me to help him last year, I told myself I was ready. Unfortunately this crap happened ... having to stop for four months for no reason.
(Doping suspension - how do you coach a player who isn't playing tournaments?) It was tough. You're accused of something you didn't do, for nothing, when you're ready, 11 in the world and motivated. You can't play and you're not even hurt. We trained and asked ourselves what for. And when Marin stayed strong mentally, I was really proud of him.
(changed his serve during the suspension) I've always said his serve wasn't good enough considering his height (1.98m). I wanted him to be more aggressive too, attack any shot that was the slightest bit short. It wasn't easy in the beginning changing habits he's had for 8-9 years. But he accepted very quickly. The offensive game took longer. So I told him: "Mate, if you have a Ferrari but you leave it in the garage and only take it out on Saturdays, sell it!" You need something big to be a top player, if not, you have no chance. There have been ups and downs but against Novak at Roland Garros (3rd round loss 6-3,6-2,6-7,6-4) he took every chance. It was the only solution against him. Besides, Novak was nervous that day on Suzanne Langlen. It was the first time I saw Marin not backing up at tough moments. He moved up, like he's done from the beginning of this tournament. His type of player needs to play like that. No other way.
(Do better here than at Roland Garros?) Absolutely. It's faster here. He learned from Indian Wells too where he won the first set 6-1 (lost 1-6,6-2,6-3) before backing off. And he has nothing to lose, he's hitting the ball really well, and he can make a dent.
(Djoković impresses you?) I'm a fan of Novak's as long as he's not playing a Croat. I'm always solidly behind him,. He's a super guy. We're mates, he's one of my favourite players, if not the favourite. He's unbelievable, so fast, the ball always is returned, and often so close to the lines it's unplayable. He's without a doubt the greatest returner in history. His serve has improved enormously, he always places it perfectly at tense moments. He puts you under pressure then, and if you let him, he pushes you around like you're an insect. He steps on you and you're dead.
(Back to Marin, he doesn't have the same temperament as you, more introverted) Everybody's not like me. He's calmer, but on the court, I want him to show his emotions. I want to see him bothered - it's not normal that I'm more bothered than he is. I told him: "Come on! You lost! Show me you're more pissed off than I am. I don't care if you complain or yell, I want some emotion!" That's what he's done here. Even at 40-0, he doesn't let go.
(Memories of you're win here in 2001?) The certainty that it would never happen again. Now there's a roof, the tournament will always end on Sunday. There will never be another Monday final. That day, anyone could buy a ticket, it was first come, first served, and the result was a football atmosphere, it was unreal and I'll never forget it. I like to come here a week before the tournament starts, walk around the grounds alone, and just breath in each court, each moment I've lived here since the first time I came here in 1988. A lot of things have changed, but it's still a unique place.