Fils Hires Goran Ivanisevic to Join His Coaching Team

Arthur Fils has hired legendary player and coach Goran Ivanisevic to join his team. The news was announced today in Doha, where the Frenchman advanced past Quentin Halys 6-1, 7-6(7). 

“Hell of a champion,” Fils said in a video posted by Tennis TV. “Winner of a Slam and coached a lot of champions, actually.”

Ivanisevic coached Novak Djokovic full-time from 2019 to 2024, a period that saw the Serbian icon win 12 of his 24 major titles. Since then the Croatian, a former Wimbledon champion, has had brief, headline-generating stints with Elena Rybakina and Stefanos Tsitisipas.

Details of the working relationship are to be determined.

“He’s helping me during the season, we’re going to try. I think it’s good for me, maybe the best for me, to have his experience as a coach and as a player, so I’m very happy that he joined us for this long journey.” 

Fils, 21, missed significant time to a lower back stress fracture, but has recently returned to winning ways. Ranked as high as No.14 in the world last season, he is currently at No.40. 

Unseeded Fils will face Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals at Doha.