Goran Ivanisevic was born on September 13, 1971, in Split, Croatia, and is a retired professional tennis player known mostly for his powerful serve and unorthodox playing style. The Croat was always raised within a tennis-loving family, with his father, Srdjan, being a tennis coach in the local area.
It was arguably Goran’s early introduction to tennis that paved the way for a career marked by memorable moments and a distinctive approach to the game. Ivanisevic turned pro in 1988, with his first main story as a singles player coming after he reached the 1989 Australian Open quarterfinal as a qualifier.
He continued to make strides and a name for himself, knocking out Boris Becker in the first round of the French Open in 1990. His powerful yet unpredictable playing style and his emotional on-court demeanor made him fans throughout the 1990s.
His powerful serve also earned him a record in the 1996 season after he had hit 1,477 aces throughout the year. His career continued in a similarly successful light throughout the 90s, but at one point, it looked as though he was going to be a case of so close yet so far.
Ivanisevic eased those qualms in 2001, when he achieved his career-best Gran Slam result, winning Wimbledon and becoming the only player to receive a wildcard and win the tournament whilst ranked 125 in the world.
Just weeks after his Wimbledon triumph, Ivanisevic was given a short-term contract at boyhood football club Hajduk Split. After putting pen to paper with the deal, the Croat claimed that, along with winning the Wimbledon title, playing for Hajduk Split was his lifelong dream.
Off the court, Ivanisevic’s charisma and sense of humor endeared him to fans. After retiring from playing in 2004, he transitioned into a successful coaching career, working with players such as 2014 US Open champion Maric Cilic, Tomas Berdych, and Milos Raonic. Since 2019, he has been the coach of the legendary Novak Djokovic.
