Novak Djokovic Grieves Over Death Of His First Coach

Written by: Staff on 3rd June 2013

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

Novak Djokovic Grieves Over Death Of His First Coach

epa03729015 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action during his fourth round match against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 03 June 2013. EPA/CAROLINE BLUMBERG |

Novak Djokovic, who’s stay at the top of the world rankings has twice previously had to overcome the emotional turmoil of death and severe illness to those close to him, is again dealing with grief as he continues his French Open campaign after his boyhood coach Jelena Gencic died on Saturday in Serbia.

Just a month or so ago Gencic, who first coached Djokovic as a six-year old and distinguished him then as a ‘golden child’ told her one-time charge that she wanted him to complete the set of Grand Slam titles. Last April Djokovic’s grandfather Vladimir died just before Monte Carlo final while last fall the player’s father Srdjan was hospitalized in intensive care with a life-threatening respiratory illness.

News of the 76 year-old Gencic’s passing was purposely kept from Djokovic before he played and comprehensively won his third round match at Roland Garros against Grigor Dimitrov. But he was informed soon after returning to the locker room and became so emotionally distressed he was excused the normally requisite post-match press conference on compassionate grounds.

Marian Vajda, the French Open top seed’s coach, told the New York Times : “She didn’t know she was going to die probably, but she told Novak when she saw him the last time that she would be the most happiest woman to see him hold that trophy. She told him she wanted to take a picture and then have the whole collection.”

Vajda and physical trainer Milan Amanovic took a calculated decision not to inform Djokovic and revealed: “We found out before, when he was warming up in the annex,” said Vajda. “Miljan told me during practice and I said: ‘We should not tell him right now. I think it would not be good.’”

Djokovic subsequently destroyed Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, impressively avenging a shock defeat in Madrid just three weeks earlier. According to members of his support team, he broke down in tears immediately after being informed of Gencic’s death on his return to the locker room and was allowed to cancel all media obligations. Later today (Monday) he is set to face German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the French Open fourth round.

Leading American writer Christopher Clarey interviewed Gencic three years ago and recalled her telling him of the first meeting with Djokovic when he was six years old at a tennis clinic held on the courts of the Serbian ski resort of Kopaonik near the family-owned restaurant. She also recounted stories of the pair practicing after bombing raids on Belgrade by NATO air forces in the 1990’s.

Djokovic subsequently said: “Pretty much what I know on court, I owe to her. She’s the one who developed my game. Whatever she told me, I did. And she kept telling me I had the talent to be no.1. I believed her and still believe her.”

Gencic also coached the youngster Monica Seles.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: French Open, Jelena Gencic, Marian Vajda, Nole, Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros, Serbian tennis news, Sports, Tennis News