Ivanisevic tips Monfils and Gulbis to break into world top 10

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  • A true legend: Goran Ivanisevic


    Ex-Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic is puzzled by Gael Monfils and the fact the Frenchman never finished a season in the top-10.

    The 42-year-old Croatian, who currently coaches Marin Cilic and is playing in the Legends Tournament here in Paris, believes Monfils, a quarter-finalist against Andy Murray today, belongs amongst the game’s elite but allows his mind to wander off frequently.

    “Gael Monfils is a guy who should be top-10 any day of the life. But he’s another character. I like Gael. He’s fun, he’s great to watch. I always pay a ticket to go watch him. But why is he not top-10? It’s a miracle he’s not there,” Ivanisevic said.

    “He can beat anybody, with the French crowd, he hits the ball amazing. But he has to show up on the court. Sometimes he doesn’t show up, I don’t know where he is in his mind. But on a good day, he can be very dangerous, he can beat anybody.”

    Ivanisevic was one of the most entertaining characters on tour and along with Marat Safin, were heavy favourites with the media in the press room.

    The Croat sees some resemblance with the outspoken Ernests Gulbis – another player he believes is destined for the top-10.

    “Gulbis is definitely after me and Safin (in press conferences), he’s following in our footsteps,” laughed Ivanisevic. “But first of all he’s an unbelievable tennis player.

    “His win over (Roger) Federer didn’t surprise me. That guy he can beat anybody when he wants to beat them.

    “He’s going to be top-10 very easy. Top-five… he has to show himself more time on the court.

    “(Milos) Raonic, (Grigor) Dimitrov, Gulbis… Raonic has huge weapons, serve and forehand. There are a couple of players who belong but there’s only place for 10 of them in the top-10, so somebody has to leave for these players to become top-10. Okay Raonic is in, so it’s Dimitrov and Gulbis, but I think Gulbis very soon.”

    Ivanisevic tipped Novak Djokovic for the French Open title, claiming the Serb – who eliminated his student Cilic in the third round – is playing the best tennis of all the men at the moment. Asked to choose a women’s favourite he said: “No idea. I would like to say Serena (Williams) but she’s not here anymore. Let’s say a little surprise, the Romanian girl Simona Halep.”

    Ivanisevic has known Cilic for the past 11 years and they’ve partnered full-time last season to plot the Croat’s return to the top-10. He has already won two titles this season in Delray Beach and Zagreb. Grass is one of Cilic’s best surfaces (owns a 66.7 per cent winning record) and his coach predicts good things for him in the next few weeks.

    “I believe if he (Cilic) plays like the way he played against Novak here and if he stays healthy, he can be very very dangerous in Wimbledon, and I expect him to play well,” said Ivanisevic.

    On how it feels to be sitting in the box rather than battling on court, Ivanisevic said: “It’s not easy. It’s very stressful and sometimes you want to jump in the court and play instead of him. It’s much easier to play. When you play you can break the racquet, you can yell, you can do whatever. When you coach you have to sit there and just be positive.

    “It’s not easy but it’s a very interesting job especially when you have an unbelievable player and unbelievable guy like Marin.

    “You need to try to do everything for him to play better. It doesn’t matter which way is that. I was on the tour for 16 years so I try to tell him some of my experience, how it was back then. It’s not easy to go into somebody’s mind.”

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