How coach Goran Ivanisevic prepared Novak Djokovic for “genius” Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon

Speaking to press after Novak Djokovic captured a 21st Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, coach Goran Ivanisevic admitted their chats ahead of the final against Nick Kyrgios were light on strategy.

“You cannot prepare match against Nick Kyrgios,” insisted the 2001 Wimbledon winner. “Nick Kyrgios is a genius, tennis genius. He doesn't know what he's going to play next in the point. We just concentrate what Novak has to do, the things he has to do, the things he has to be careful. When somebody serving like Nick Kyrgios, for me is the best server in the game by far. Unbelievable tennis player. Is very unpredictable.

“So, it's impossible to make a tactics. Is no tactics. For 15 minutes, the best returner in the world, he does not touch his serve. You get the chance, then he breaks him.”

And that’s exactly how Sunday’s final played out: a perfect serving performance from Kyrgios took him through a 6-4 opening set, but from 30-all in the opening game of the second, Djokovic avoided a second break and turned the tables on his inexperienced opponent to ultimately take the match, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

You cannot prepare match against Nick Kyrgios. Nick Kyrgios is a genius, tennis genius. He doesn't know what he's going to play next in the point. We just concentrate what Novak has to do, the things he has to do, the things he has to be careful. Goran Ivanisevic

In between preaching patience to the would-be seven-time Wimbledon champion, Ivanisevic warned Djokovic to look out for Kyrgios’ now-infamous emotional tells, particularly his penchant for barking at his box—which the Aussie would do to his detriment late in the third set.

“Key point was to concentrate on what Novak has to do, and just to stick to those little things to be ready for the big serves, for the big second serve winners. But also he knew on this stage, when Nick starts to talk, he's going to be vulnerable. You know, that happened. Happened in the third set when Nick was 40-0 up, 4-4, suddenly Novak broke him and he was talking to his box. That's Nick.

“You need to take every chance you get because you don't have too many chances.”

The colorful Croat, who witnessed Djokovic at his lowest following his deportation from Australia earlier this year, is unclear on where his charge goes from here: Djokovic's refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19 precludes him from participating in the U.S. summer hard-court swing, which culminates at the US Open.

“There is one movie back home, is a 'Long, Hot Summer,'” joked Ivanisevic. “This is going to be for me: a long, hot summer vacation. I going to have vacation from today, I don't know till when. I don't know. Maybe [President] Biden will change his mind.”