With New Coach Ivanisevic, Djokovic Opens Play Monday At Wimbledon; Venus v 15-Year-Old Gauff
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Wimbledon begins Monday with defending champion Novak Djokovic opening the event in the traditional 1pm slot on Center Court. Seeking a fifth Wimbledon title, the Serb has added a new face to the team, former champion Goran Ivanisevic.
Djokovic made no mention of the addition when speaking to the press just yesterday, but today he came onto the practice courts with the 2001 champion. Ivanisevic has coached Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic in the past.
Serbian press confirmed the addition which seems to be just for Wimbledon.
I've just talked to Goran Ivanišević, who has confimed that he will be part of Team Djokovic: This is a huge recognition for me as a coach because Novak doesn't choose coaches just like that, he needs to see that someone can help him. #Wimbledon #Novak https://t.co/oPpOOWT88o
— Saša Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa) June 30, 2019
Djokovic start his defense against Philipp Kohlschrieber who beat the World No. 1 at Indian Wells this year.
“I’m approaching this year’s Wimbledon as defending champion, No. 1 of the world,” Djokovic said. “Last year I was in top 20, but I did drop out of top 20 after French Open I think.
“Even though after winning 15 slams, I still value these tournaments very much and understand the importance they have, importance of winning them on my entire career, my confidence, my future.”
The man Djokovic beat in the 2018 final, Kevin Anderson, is also in action playing just his second event in his comeback from an elbow injury.
Stan Wawrinka makes his return and there are a bunch of youngsters with Alexander Zverev, Karen Khachanov, Stefanos Tsitsipas and 18-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime who is the youngest in the draw.
In the women’s draw, at 39, 5-time champion Venus Williams meets someone 24 years younger than her, 15-year-old Coco Gauff. Gauff needed a wildcard just to get into qualifying and then she proceeded to dominate in her three matches. No she faces her idol.
The struggling Naomi Osaka opens against Yulia Putintseva who has two wins this year over the former No. 1, including just recently at Birmingham.
“It’s been kind of tough, especially since it’s way more unpredictable than clay,” Osaka said of her transition from clay to grass. “But, you know, I feel like it should be good for me because it’s very heavily reliant on the first serves, sort of being the first person to be aggressive. I’ve been kind of trying to learn every day. I think it’s been a very humbling experience.”
More former No. 1s dot the schedule like Simona Halep, Eastbourne champion Karolina Pliskova, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki.
MONDAY WIMBLEDON SCHEDULE
Centre Court – 1:00 PM Start
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] versus Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) versus Naomi Osaka (JPN) [2]
Kyle Edmund (GBR) [30] versus Jaume Munar (ESP)
No.1 Court – 1:00 PM Start
Simona Halep (ROU) [7] versus Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Jiri Vesely (CZE) (Q) versus Alexander Zverev (GER) [6]
Venus Williams (USA) versus Cori Gauff (USA) (Q)
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