Novak Djokovic has worked with an elite list of coaches throughout his incredible two-decade-long tennis career.
The Serbian has won Grand Slams while working with several former tennis icons, including Goran Ivanisevic, Andre Agassi, and Boris Becker.
Djokovic even enlisted his old rival Andy Murray’s help at the latter end of 2024 until mid-way through the 2025 season.
His first coach, however, had an excellent coaching career away from her work with Djokovic, having worked with four other Grand Slam winners.
Jelena Gencic’s incredible coaching career
Djokovic’s first coach was Jelena Gencic, who worked with the Serbian star for six years in the infancy of his career.
Gencic and Djokovic worked together between 1993 and 1999, before the star made his professional debut on the ATP Tour.
Djokovic was not the only player with whom Gencic worked as she also moulded several other future Grand Slam winners.
Gencic worked with Ivanisevic and Monica Seles before they went on to have remarkable Grand Slam success.
Seles won nine Grand Slams, while Ivanisevic is still the only wild card to win Wimbledon after his epic run at the 2001 tournament.
Gencic also worked with 1977 Roland Garros champion Mima Jaušovec, as well as 1997 Roland Garros champion Iva Majoli.
The legendary tennis coach’s legacy is one that brought 36 Grand Slam titles between those five iconic stars.
Novak Djokovic called Jelena Gencic the ‘most influential’ coach of his career
Djokovic might have worked with a star-studded list of all-star coaches, but he named Gencic as the most pivotal of his career.
Speaking to TNT Sports, the 24-time Grand Slam champion said: “You can’t function to your biggest potential and abilities as a human being and as a man without a woman by your side, and vice versa.
“Somebody who can listen to you and help you evolve and grow your character and strengths. That’s what both Jelenas have done for me in my life…they have been the most influential people I’ve had.”
Gencic died at the age of 76 in 2013, but her legacy in tennis will live on forever for the way she moulded entire generations of tennis players.
