Djokovic accused of ‘punching’ fellow star as tense coaching session surfaces

A former tennis participant has opened up on Novak Djokovic’s early years in tennis and claimed that he and Latvian professional Ernests Gulbis used to “punch each other” whereas coaching on the Pilic Academy. Cosmin Georgescu counted Djokovic as his first roommate on the tennis academy and in addition had his first drink with the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

Djokovic has turn out to be one of many best tennis gamers, tying Serena Williams’ Open Era file of Grand Slam titles whereas holding essentially the most all-time weeks at No 1 amongst different large achievements. But as a teen coaching on the tennis academy of Nikola Pilic, it appears the Serb had some hassle with a fellow participant, Gulbis.

Speaking to Romanian outlet ProSport, tennis coach Georgescu opened up on his days on the academy with Djokovic and revealed that the world No 2 didn’t gel with the previous high 10 star. Explaining how the 2 joined him on the Pilic Academy, the Romanian stated: “Djokovic knew Pilic and after a while Ernest Gulbis arrived too.

“Two different characters, Djokovic and Gulbis. Completely different but when they were both on the pitch, no one could take them off except after six to eight hours of training a day.” While each males had been devoted to their coaching periods, it appeared that they didn’t all the time make one of the best decisions throughout their practices.

Georgescu added: “They broke rackets, they argued, they punched each other, they always punched each other. Two ambitious characters who rarely meet, proud and determined.” Despite their early variations, each males ended up turning professional after becoming a member of the academy as kids.

The Latvian broke into the highest 10 in 2014 shortly after reaching his solely Grand Slam semi-final on the French Open and he has 9 titles to his identify. But it was Djokovic who obtained the higher of Gulbis once they did face off as professionals, holding a 7-1 file towards his outdated foe.

While Georgescu remembered some fights between Djokovic and Gulbis, he additionally had fond recollections of the Serb. “Nole was my first roommate at Croatian tennis legend Nikki Pilic’s tennis academy. Pilic put me in a room with Djokovic. There were other guys, both Croatian and Serbian, even Russian,” he stated.