Wimbledon 2019: Novak Djokovic adds 2001 champion Goran Ivanisevic to coaching team ahead of title defence

Djokovic, who beat Kevin Anderson in straight sets in last year’s final, will work with the 2001 champion for at least the first week of the tournament

Defending Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has refreshed his coaching team ahead of his attempt to win the Gentlemen’s Singles at SW19 for a fifth time.

Djokovic, who beat Kevin Anderson in straight sets in last year’s final, will work with the 2001 champion Goran Ivanisevic for at least the first week of the tournament.

Ivanisevic, the only man to win the singles title as a wild card entry, has previously coached Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic.

“A bit of a sudden call came a few days ago,” the 47-year-old told Serbian news outlet sportklub.

“I was a little surprised, I travelled to Sweden, Nole wanted me to come earlier, but I had a senior tour event agreed. I came here this morning for the first training.

“Unfortunately, it seems that I will be able to be there only in the first week because I have obligations again.

“I’m trying to postpone them, although there are so many things.

“However, when Novak Djokovic is calling you, you put a lot of things on the side.”

The best performances of big-serving Ivanisevic’s career were on the grass, having been a beaten finalist three times during the 1990s before finally lifting the trophy in 2001.

Despite winning at Wimbledon four times, including last year, it remains the surface that Djokovic is least comfortable on, having never played on it until he had turned professional.

He said: “To be honest, I did struggle a little bit at the beginning, in the first couple of years of my career on the grass to really understand how I need to move on the court, how I need to adjust my swing and my game in general, tactically what I need to do.

“But over the years I guess you learn how to get used to it. Just have some form of a subconscious program from before that you try to unlock and remember and use it for the season every year.”