Djokovic Hires Fibak For Consultation

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 28th August 2013

Djokovic Hires Fibak For Consultation

epa03839716 Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return against Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania during their match on the second day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 27 August 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Novak Djokovic has brought Poland’s Wojtek Fibak on to his team for the US Open. The former coach of Ivan Lendl and a former top 10 player, the 60-year-old Fibak has an immense amount of experience.

Djokovic’s team, which consists of his full time coach Marian Vajda, physiotherapists Milan Amanovic and Gebhard Phil-Gritsch, as well as his girlfriend Jelena Ristic, sat down after his less than satisfactory performances in Montreal and Cincinnati and decided they need a new voice for the US Open.

“It was a team decision,” said Djokovic after his first round win over Ricardas Berankis at the US Open. “I never try to make decisions on my own, because even though it’s individual sport, it’s a team effort in the end that really counts. So we discuss everything that is on our agenda basically. We all agreed that we might need that extra help, and consultation. Wojtek Fibak was the right person for us at that moment. We will see how it will go during these two weeks.”

Fibak won 15 singles titles and 52 doubles titles during his career and reached he quarters of three majors in 1980. He is close to Vajda, who has coached Djokovic since 2006.

“It’s kind of a trial in this tournament to see how it goes, how he’s going to fit in the team,” Djokovic said. “We worked very well last six, seven days of the preparations for the Open. And tonight’s match went really well. He has an important role in the team. My tennis coach has a very good relationship with him. We know each other for many years. He lives in the same place where I live. He’s been a very good player. Top 10. He had a great doubles, singles career. Coached Lendl for many years. He’s somebody that has huge experience in this sport. He knows a lot of people. He shares a big love and passion for this sport. That’s something I’m looking forward to find out more from him. I think he has a great input and a great way of observing the tennis matches. So hopefully, you know, we can work together very well in this tournament.“

Against Berankis, Djokovic appeared to be trying out a few new elements in his game, including a slap (hit hard) and charge off his opponent’s second serves. He also threw in some sharply angled groundstrokes. The world No. 1 hasn’t won a title since April, so he knows he needs to improve

“When you are up, you maybe try here and there to hit and come to the net or try something new, but nothing in particular,” Djokovic said. “You don’t really want to experiment on the court too much. Because at that stage, you know, you have to play every point like it’s a match point. So that kind of mindset was for me from the first to the last point today in the match. I was just very happy with the concentration because I didn’t play so well in Montreal and Cincinnati in the warm-up tournaments for the US Open. So I had 10 days to really give everything I can on the practice courts. I was very committed and put 100% into my preparations. It’s starting to pay off.”

Topics: Atp, Ivan Lendl, Novak Djokovic, Sports, Tennis, US Open, Wojtek Fibak

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Manojkrishnan says:

August 28, 2013 at 8:09 am

RT @10sBalls_com: Djokovic Hires Fibak For Consultation: Novak Djokovic has brought Poland’s Wojtek Fibak on to his tea… http://t.co/7xd4…
sixtwosixone says:

August 28, 2013 at 12:35 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Djokovic Hires Fibak For Consultation: Novak Djokovic has brought Poland’s Wojtek Fibak on to his tea… http://t.co/7xd4…
AgentChy says:

August 28, 2013 at 11:32 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Djokovic Hires Fibak For Consultation: Novak Djokovic has brought Poland’s Wojtek Fibak on to his tea… http://t.co/7xd4…