ROME—After losing to Rafael Nadal in the Monte Carlo final two weeks ago, world No. 3 Novak Djokovic decided he needed a change. In the hopes of winning a second career major title at Roland Garros or Wimbledon, the 2008 Australian Open champion knows that improved endurance is necessary if he wants to surpass the likes of Nadal and Roger Federer. So after two and a half years with his former fitness coach, Djokovic has hired Gebhard Phil-Gritsch, famous for coaching Austrian clay-court specialist Thomas Muster to the No. 1 ranking during the 1990s.
“I felt that I needed a change,” Djokovic, 21, said Friday. “I needed something new to improve on.” As to the specifics of his new regimen, neither the Serb nor his manager, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, would delve into any details. But at the very least, it seems the shuffling has boosted the confidence of an already confident Djokovic.
Conditioning has been cited as a weakness in Djokovic’s game over the last few seasons. There has been a sense that the immensely talented Serb is more vulnerable than his opponents to the extreme heat frequently experienced Down Under in January or on the U.S. summer circuit. While Djokovic insisted that the change in trainers has nothing to do with the debacle against Andy Roddick at this year’s Australian Open—a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2, 2-1 RET meltdown—Djokovic says he not satisfied with his conditioning overall.
“The walkover in Australia was something else,” Djokovic said. “It was extreme conditions and a scheduling problem as well. It had nothing to do with my decision to change my [fitness] coach, particularly that match [against Roddick]. I have been thinking about changing for the last five to six months, and hopefully the new change is going to be better.”
Although Djokovic and Phil-Gritsch have only been working together for a short time, some improvements have already been on display this week at this week’s Rome Masters. In Friday’s straight sets win over top-ranked Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, Djokovic had little trouble sustaining himself in the typical long rallies of the clay-court season. In fact, it was Djokovic’s ability to move del Potro around the court and to vary the pace of his own shots that allowed the Serb to post a relatively easy 6-3, 6-4 win.
And in today’s semifinal victory over Federer, Djokovic again looked agile and resilient against the nimble Swiss. Federer had been focusing on his own conditioning this week, holed up with fitness coach Pierre Paganini in a secret location on the hills of Rome. But defending champion Djokovic came back from a set down against the 13-time major champ, and said he believes his play is better than a year ago: “Physically I think I'm stronger, and I'm combining this patience with aggressivity in certain moments.”
Of course, everyone on the ATP Tour is chasing Nadal, the reigning champion at both of the European Slams. Nadal’s astounding clay-court record is forcing his pursuers to improve physically in order to have a chance to compete. Last year, top Brit Andy Murray saw huge growth in his game due to increased strength and fitness. The same was true for Fernando Verdasco, who began training with Gil Reyes, Andre Agassi’s long-time fitness coach, at the end of 2008. Verdasco’s fitness was on display at the Australian in his epic semifinal clash with Nadal; the No. 1 survived the longest match in the Slam’s history and then went on to win the title—his sixth major—in another five-setter against Federer. This season has also seen the reemergence of a slimmed down Andy Roddick who relished the Australian heat earlier in the year.
Djokovic, currently 1-1 in Grand Slam singles finals, will go for his second consecutive victory in Rome on Sunday.
Gerard Raiti is a freelance writer covering the Rome Masters.