Goran Ivanisevic on separating ‘good Goran and bad Goran’ and why Nick Kyrgios can win Grand Slams

ATP Tour
Nick Kyrgios

Goran Ivanisevic believes being able to get “good Goran and bad Goran” to work together was key to his 2001 Wimbledon success and says Nick Kyrgios can learn a thing or two from him and fulfill his potential.

The Croatian, who finished runner-up at Wimbledon on three occasions before winning the title, has always been the first to admit that his different personalities were often his downfall in big matches.

However, in 2001 “good Goran and bad Goran” became friends and Ivanisevic went on to make history by becoming the first wildcard to win Wimbledon as he beat Pat Rafter in five sets in the final.

“I was able to separate these two things: Good Goran and bad Goran and they were helping each other for the first time,” he told the Australian Open YouTube.

“Usually they were against each other and they created a lot of bad losses, a lot of stupid losses.

“I lost so many matches especially against big players – Pete (Sampras), Andre (Agassi), Jim (Courier) – tight matches but they always waited for me to make some stupid, crazy mistakes.

“But in that two weeks they (good Goran and bad Goran) were friends – enemies but friends – and they helped each other a lot.”

Like Ivanisevic, Kyrgios is also an enigma as he often struggles to motivate himself during matches and sometimes appears to give up while other times he is unplayable.

Ivanisevic feels the Australian is good enough to win Grand Slams.

“He has some issues deep down – he is the worst for himself and I know how he feels,” he said.

“He is fighting with 100 people, sometimes he wants to prove something that is impossible to prove.

“But there is no sense to talk about his talent because he is one of the biggest talents. He is the guy who can win Grand Slams. He can beat anybody any day.

“He is, for me, the best server in the game. He can do whatever with the ball.”

He added: “He is getting better and better and he will honestly regret one day if he’s kind of not be able to change.

“Because the guy’s so talented, to not be able to win a Grand Slam would be a shame for tennis.

“Hopefully he can change and do it because deep down he’s a good guy and tennis needs Nick Kyrgios and Nick Kyrgios needs tennis.

“But hopefully he can manage to do it better on the court and I think he could definitely in the future win a Grand Slam.”

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