Jannik Sinner learns true thoughts of Roger Federer's ex-coach on potentially teaming up
Roger Federer's ex-coach, Ivan Ljubicic, has admitted he'd love a coaching stint with Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner. The former professional tennis star had Federer as his student for seven years, and has since kept a keen eye on the fresh talent dominating tennis courts worldwide.
The Croatian has been praising many new tennis stars, including Alcaraz, stating that you "never know what's coming next" with him. However, it is Sinner who is giving Ljubicic "goosebumps" when it comes to returning to the courts in a coaching capacity.
Just this month, Sinner nabbed his first Wimbledon title, exacting his French Open final revenge on Alcaraz by beating him in four sets - and he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
With the announcement that Sinner's current coach Darren Cahill will step down at the end of 2025, Ljubicic has admitted the temptation is there to return to tennis.
Speaking to Swiss publication Tages Anzeiger, he teased the idea of returning. The 46-year-old said: "I have a job with the French FA that keeps me busy, but when a player like Sinner knocks on your door, you have to at least consider it, just like with Roger Federer.
"Sinner, Alcaraz... there are some players who give me goosebumps. At some point, I'll return to coaching a player, but I don't know when."
Ljubicic has nothing but high praise for the emerging rivalry in tennis, although he admitted that he didn't anticipate such a strong competition following the departure of the Big Three. Both Federer and Rafael Nadal have retired their racquets, while Novak Djokovic continues to grace the courts at 38.
When asked if he foresaw Alcaraz and Sinner filling the void so smoothly, Ljubicic added: "No. The first time I heard about Alcaraz was when he played against Sinner in a Challenger tournament. He was 16 then, and Sinner was 18.
"Riccardo Piatti had been my coach; he coached Sinner, so I knew all about him. That's also how I heard about Alcaraz. I knew he was going to be good. But this good? You never know. Alcaraz and Sinner are both very eager to win many Grand Slam titles. It will be exciting to see how far they go."
Ljubicic believes that the rivalry between these two young tennis sensations will only intensify, as they still have a long way to go to reach the heights of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic. Reflecting on the thrilling French Open final, he said: "It was a good final. A very, very, very good final.
"The drama was perfect with the match points that were saved, but people always exaggerate. John McEnroe said that Nadal would have had no chance against these guys - that's nonsense.
"We still haven't seen the best of Alcaraz and Sinner; they still have plenty of room for improvement. The next generation is always better than the previous one, but I don't think they're ahead yet. Sometimes I watch Roger and Rafa's matches from 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2015. That was incredible tennis."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Thousands set to descend on London as Lionesses' Euros celebrations continue
Supporters cheered with joy across the country as the team defended their Euros title with a penalty shootout win over Spain in the final in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. The revelry is set to continue when the Lionesses and their head coach Sarina Wiegman make their way along the Mall near Buckingham Palace on the bus just after midday, with thousands of fans set to line the road to join in the celebrations. In case you missed it! 😍 We brought it home, again! And now it's time to celebrate with you 🙌 All the details you need for our special Homecoming event in Central London, taking place on Tuesday 29 July: — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 There will also be a trophy ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the palace, hosted by former England right-back Alex Scott. The free event is hosted by the FA, which has warned fans to plan their visit 'carefully' as they expect it to be very busy. Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the FA, said: 'We are so proud of all of the players, Sarina and the support team who have all been part of this incredible achievement. They have all worked unbelievably hard and we know the nation shares our pride. 'The victory celebration in London on Tuesday will give England fans an opportunity to celebrate with the players, and be part of history. 'We've had amazing support from our fans both in Switzerland and at home throughout the tournament, and we look forward to celebrating together and creating some lifelong memories.' The procession comes after celebrations on home soil began on Monday afternoon when the team landed at Southend Airport in Essex. Hundreds of fans waited patiently to catch a glimpse of Wiegman's side and the trophy, which captain Leah Williamson held up in front of jubilant crowds, before the squad made their way to Downing Street for a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. Number 10 was decorated for the occasion, with St George's flags draped over windows and bunting along the railings. Wiegman and some of her Lionesses spoke to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer via video call from the garden of No 10. The Dutchwoman said 'hello Keir, nice to see you', adding 'it's lovely here'. Sir Keir said: 'Fantastic to see you all and welcome to Downing Street. I just wanted to say a huge, huge congratulations to you and to the whole team. 'It was an absolutely amazing victory and you must've felt the eyes and ears of the whole country on you last night.' At the reception, Wiegman congratulated her team and called for more investment in the women's game, saying: 'The team is just incredible, we won the Euros but making the final, we're already legendary, what the team has done and the team behind the team.' Speaking a few hours before the Government announced a new package of measures to boost access to grassroots football, she added: 'This incredible team won the Euros and then straightaway sent a letter to you, the Government, asking for attention and asking for access to football for all girls. 'Steps have been taken but we're not done yet, we have to keep moving forward and we need a little bit more.' On Monday night, the Government announced plans for priority access to grassroots football pitches for girls and women to be more than doubled. As part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's proposals, prime time slots dedicated to women's and girls' teams at Government-funded facilities across England will be increased over the next five years to meet the expected increased demand after the Lionesses' dramatic win. As well as the Prime Minister, the King also congratulated the European champions, saying in a statement posted on X: 'You have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms. 'Well done, Lionesses.' The Prince of Wales was spotted in the stands in Basel on Sunday applauding with those around him, including Princess Charlotte, and royal celebrations could continue as a trip to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle may be arranged for the team as plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides, it is understood.
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Thousands set to descend on London as Lionesses' Euros celebrations continue
Supporters cheered with joy across the country as the team defended their Euros title with a penalty shootout win over Spain in the final in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. The revelry is set to continue when the Lionesses and their head coach Sarina Wiegman make their way along the Mall near Buckingham Palace on the bus just after midday, with thousands of fans set to line the road to join in the celebrations. In case you missed it! 😍 We brought it home, again! And now it's time to celebrate with you 🙌 All the details you need for our special Homecoming event in Central London, taking place on Tuesday 29 July: — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 There will also be a trophy ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the palace, hosted by former England right-back Alex Scott. The free event is hosted by the FA, which has warned fans to plan their visit 'carefully' as they expect it to be very busy. Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the FA, said: 'We are so proud of all of the players, Sarina and the support team who have all been part of this incredible achievement. They have all worked unbelievably hard and we know the nation shares our pride. 'The victory celebration in London on Tuesday will give England fans an opportunity to celebrate with the players, and be part of history. 'We've had amazing support from our fans both in Switzerland and at home throughout the tournament, and we look forward to celebrating together and creating some lifelong memories.' The procession comes after celebrations on home soil began on Monday afternoon when the team landed at Southend Airport in Essex. Hundreds of fans waited patiently to catch a glimpse of Wiegman's side and the trophy, which captain Leah Williamson held up in front of jubilant crowds, before the squad made their way to Downing Street for a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. Number 10 was decorated for the occasion, with St George's flags draped over windows and bunting along the railings. Wiegman and some of her Lionesses spoke to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer via video call from the garden of No 10. The Dutchwoman said 'hello Keir, nice to see you', adding 'it's lovely here'. Sir Keir said: 'Fantastic to see you all and welcome to Downing Street. I just wanted to say a huge, huge congratulations to you and to the whole team. 'It was an absolutely amazing victory and you must've felt the eyes and ears of the whole country on you last night.' At the reception, Wiegman congratulated her team and called for more investment in the women's game, saying: 'The team is just incredible, we won the Euros but making the final, we're already legendary, what the team has done and the team behind the team.' Speaking a few hours before the Government announced a new package of measures to boost access to grassroots football, she added: 'This incredible team won the Euros and then straightaway sent a letter to you, the Government, asking for attention and asking for access to football for all girls. 'Steps have been taken but we're not done yet, we have to keep moving forward and we need a little bit more.' On Monday night, the Government announced plans for priority access to grassroots football pitches for girls and women to be more than doubled. As part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's proposals, prime time slots dedicated to women's and girls' teams at Government-funded facilities across England will be increased over the next five years to meet the expected increased demand after the Lionesses' dramatic win. As well as the Prime Minister, the King also congratulated the European champions, saying in a statement posted on X: 'You have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms. 'Well done, Lionesses.' The Prince of Wales was spotted in the stands in Basel on Sunday applauding with those around him, including Princess Charlotte, and royal celebrations could continue as a trip to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle may be arranged for the team as plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides, it is understood.
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Thousands set to descend on London as Lionesses' Euros celebrations continue
Supporters cheered with joy across the country as the team defended their Euros title with a penalty shootout win over Spain in the final in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday. The revelry is set to continue when the Lionesses and their head coach Sarina Wiegman make their way along the Mall near Buckingham Palace on the bus just after midday, with thousands of fans set to line the road to join in the celebrations. In case you missed it! 😍 We brought it home, again! And now it's time to celebrate with you 🙌 All the details you need for our special Homecoming event in Central London, taking place on Tuesday 29 July: — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 There will also be a trophy ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the palace, hosted by former England right-back Alex Scott. The free event is hosted by the FA, which has warned fans to plan their visit 'carefully' as they expect it to be very busy. Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the FA, said: 'We are so proud of all of the players, Sarina and the support team who have all been part of this incredible achievement. They have all worked unbelievably hard and we know the nation shares our pride. 'The victory celebration in London on Tuesday will give England fans an opportunity to celebrate with the players, and be part of history. 'We've had amazing support from our fans both in Switzerland and at home throughout the tournament, and we look forward to celebrating together and creating some lifelong memories.' The procession comes after celebrations on home soil began on Monday afternoon when the team landed at Southend Airport in Essex. Hundreds of fans waited patiently to catch a glimpse of Wiegman's side and the trophy, which captain Leah Williamson held up in front of jubilant crowds, before the squad made their way to Downing Street for a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. Number 10 was decorated for the occasion, with St George's flags draped over windows and bunting along the railings. Wiegman and some of her Lionesses spoke to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer via video call from the garden of No 10. The Dutchwoman said 'hello Keir, nice to see you', adding 'it's lovely here'. Sir Keir said: 'Fantastic to see you all and welcome to Downing Street. I just wanted to say a huge, huge congratulations to you and to the whole team. 'It was an absolutely amazing victory and you must've felt the eyes and ears of the whole country on you last night.' At the reception, Wiegman congratulated her team and called for more investment in the women's game, saying: 'The team is just incredible, we won the Euros but making the final, we're already legendary, what the team has done and the team behind the team.' Speaking a few hours before the Government announced a new package of measures to boost access to grassroots football, she added: 'This incredible team won the Euros and then straightaway sent a letter to you, the Government, asking for attention and asking for access to football for all girls. 'Steps have been taken but we're not done yet, we have to keep moving forward and we need a little bit more.' On Monday night, the Government announced plans for priority access to grassroots football pitches for girls and women to be more than doubled. As part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's proposals, prime time slots dedicated to women's and girls' teams at Government-funded facilities across England will be increased over the next five years to meet the expected increased demand after the Lionesses' dramatic win. As well as the Prime Minister, the King also congratulated the European champions, saying in a statement posted on X: 'You have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms. 'Well done, Lionesses.' The Prince of Wales was spotted in the stands in Basel on Sunday applauding with those around him, including Princess Charlotte, and royal celebrations could continue as a trip to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle may be arranged for the team as plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides, it is understood.
