Ljubicic, Federer, Coric

Gary Duane

Gary Duane

Talk Tennis Guru
I found this very strange today. You have a guy who is supposedly the coach of one player but manager of the other, and the managed player beats the coached player.

I had heard that Ljubicic is managing Coric, and today it got serious, with him beating Fed.

I'm wondering how that felt to team Fed?

You're still close to the top of the game. Your super coach is Croatian. The kid who beats you is also Croatian, 15 years younger, and managed by your coach.

Seems a bit odd to me.

Thoughts?
 
Gary Duane said:
I had heard that Ljubicic is managing Coric, and today it got serious, with him beating Fed.

I'm wondering how that felt to team Fed?
Click to expand...

Roger Federer is clearly the biggest name and draw in tennis, bar none, in the history of the sport. Almost every casual sports fan (or human being) in the western world has heard of Federer. In contrast, Coric is a complete non-entity and no one except the most serious tennis fans have even heard of him or could pick him out of a police line up.

Ljub's allegiance is to the cash cow and biggest name in the sport. Coric may (or probably may not) do anything noteworthy in his career. Fed is a proven commodity over two decades. Fed knows this, knows where Ljub's mindset and pocketbook is at and has no worries of divided allegiance. Coric is an ant in tennis and Fed is the God and Ljub knows it. Fed's mindset is on rest and Wimbledon. Ljub as a manager to Coric doesn't enter his head. And where was Ljub sitting all week? In Fed's box, not Borna's.
 
BeatlesFan said:
Roger Federer is clearly the biggest name and draw in tennis, bar none, in the history of the sport. Almost every casual sports fan (or human being) in the western world has heard of Federer. In contrast, Coric is a complete non-entity and no one except the most serious tennis fans have even heard of him or could pick him out of a police line up.

Ljub's allegiance is to the cash cow and biggest name in the sport. Coric may (or probably may not) do anything noteworthy in his career. Fed is a proven commodity over two decades. Fed knows this, knows where Ljub's mindset and pocketbook is at and has no worries of divided allegiance. Coric is an ant in tennis and Fed is the God and Ljub knows it. Fed's mindset is on rest and Wimbledon. Ljub as a manager to Coric doesn't enter his head. And where was Ljub sitting all week? In Fed's box, not Borna's.
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But that analysis isn't entirely correct. How much longer is Federer going to be active on tour? A couple of years tops? Ljubicic has to think about his future after Federer retires and Ljubicic has his own agency called S.A.M. and which is working with some of the younger players including Coric. Coric is 21 years old and the future of the sport. That's what Ljubicic is thinking about--his future and how to try and take some young players and make them winners and make a name for his agency. Federer will move on with his gazillion dollars and won't be bankrolling Ljubicic.
 
I doubt it really affected Fed in any way. This tournament pretty much means nothing to him at this point in his career. If this was Wimbledon maybe he'd think deeper into it but I doubt he even batted an eye at the Croats' relationship.
 
Gary Duane said:
I found this very strange today. You have a guy who is supposedly the coach of one player but manager of the other, and the managed player beats the coached player.

I had heard that Ljubicic is managing Coric, and today it got serious, with him beating Fed.

I'm wondering how that felt to team Fed?

You're still close to the top of the game. Your super coach is Croatian. The kid who beats you is also Croatian, 15 years younger, and managed by your coach.

Seems a bit odd to me.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

It would feel the same to Federer as it would to Coric had Federer won the match. It's an unusual case of divided loyalty for Ljubicic, but unless Federer or Coric have exclusivity agreements with him they just have to wear it.
 
Gary Duane said:
I found this very strange today. You have a guy who is supposedly the coach of one player but manager of the other, and the managed player beats the coached player.

I had heard that Ljubicic is managing Coric, and today it got serious, with him beating Fed.

I'm wondering how that felt to team Fed?

You're still close to the top of the game. Your super coach is Croatian. The kid who beats you is also Croatian, 15 years younger, and managed by your coach.

Seems a bit odd to me.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Yeah, same thing occurred to me when I learnt that he was Coric's Manager. I thought, "Hang on, he's coaching Federer and managing his opponent???" That must have been SOME conflict of interest going on there, no wonder he looked a bit uncertain watching the match as if unsure who he should be supporting. I too wonder if he and Fed will be parting company soon (amicably of course) and Ljubicic will then devote himself full time to his young compatriot's cause?
 
Mainad said:
Yeah, same thing occurred to me when I learnt that he was Coric's Manager. I thought, "Hang on, he's coaching Federer and managing his opponent???" That must have been SOME conflict of interest going on there, no wonder he looked a bit uncertain watching the match as if unsure who he should be supporting. I too wonder if he and Fed will be parting company soon (amicably of course) and Ljubicic will then devote himself full time to his young compatriot's cause?
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I had the same thoughts. It would certainly be a steal for Coric.
 
It does appear like a conflict of interest of sorts. Doubt it matters much to anyone for now. If they meet at a Wimbledon however and Coric wins again, then I suspect things might get a bit messy, but being a manager to a player is not the same as being a coach to another.
 
Mainad said:
Yeah, same thing occurred to me when I learnt that he was Coric's Manager. I thought, "Hang on, he's coaching Federer and managing his opponent???" That must have been SOME conflict of interest going on there, no wonder he looked a bit uncertain watching the match as if unsure who he should be supporting. I too wonder if he and Fed will be parting company soon (amicably of course) and Ljubicic will then devote himself full time to his young compatriot's cause?
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Well life goes on, whether or not one or the other wins. But ofcourse it gives people on the net something to write about.
 
Bender said:
It does appear like a conflict of interest of sorts. Doubt it matters much to anyone for now. If they meet at a Wimbledon however and Coric wins again, then I suspect things might get a bit messy, but being a manager to a player is not the same as being a coach to another.
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Exactly. Lubicic is not Coric's coach, so his prority on the the day are clear. And even if Coric loses a match to Federer his manager will clearly survive. Especially if we are talking about resonable, adult, well-off people, which I believe we are. Of course not so reasonable, adult, well-off people might think differently.
 
Last edited:
Ljubicic turned to be extremely nationalistic. Croacia comes first.
Federer toying with Cilic as of lately was Ljub’s distracting maneuver.
 
papertank said:
I doubt it really affected Fed in any way. This tournament pretty much means nothing to him at this point in his career. If this was Wimbledon maybe he'd think deeper into it but I doubt he even batted an eye at the Croats' relationship.
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lmao he wanted number 10 so bad. And bragged about it being his hunting grounds. Fed was not happy to lose.
 
They kept zooming to Ljubo's face during the Sunday match.

What I saw in his expression was purely concern for Fed, not unlike a maiden in love :oops:
 
Gary Duane said:
I found this very strange today. You have a guy who is supposedly the coach of one player but manager of the other, and the managed player beats the coached player.

I had heard that Ljubicic is managing Coric, and today it got serious, with him beating Fed.

I'm wondering how that felt to team Fed?

You're still close to the top of the game. Your super coach is Croatian. The kid who beats you is also Croatian, 15 years younger, and managed by your coach.

Seems a bit odd to me.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I was surprised to hear that as well. I studied Ljubicic’s face on match point. He looked pretty Stoic but I honestly think that he was rooting for Coric. I mean, Fed is no doubt his primary cash source but a Halle title means much more to Coric than to Fed at this point, and I assume that the endorsement money in Croatia will start coming in for Coric.

Mayube Coric should go to Uniqlo!
 
K-H said:
You’re saying as if 2 of the last 3 is incorrect. They’re both right. I just said mine as it has more relevance to his recent form.
Click to expand...

If you really want to go "recent", then 1 out of the last 1 is even more correct, isn't it? ;)

Also, as far as divided loyalties go, we've seen much worse, such as when Muster faced Gaudenzi in the MC '95 semi and they were both coached by Ronnie Lietgeb, for example.
 
BeatlesFan said:
Coric may (or probably may not) do anything noteworthy in his career.
Click to expand...

Gotta say I was very impressed with Coric's backhand and serve yesterday. As well as how steady he was. Was it a one-time or only occasional kind of performance? Maybe, but at 21, the potential is there. He also seems to have a slow and steady approach to the game which is good for sustained long-term success, unlike Zverev who seems to like to signal that he has "arrived" every opportunity he gets. Time will tell.
 
I'm pretty sure that they thought of this and agreed to respective terms in advance.

Obviously, coach and manager are a different function, and being involved with getting the player mentally and tactically ready to win is obviously the coach's job, so naturally Ljubicic works with Fed in Halle.

This isn't even about Fed being the greater player in my opinion.
 
Rafa24 said:
lmao he wanted number 10 so bad [1]. And bragged about it being his hunting grounds [2]. Fed was not happy to lose [3].
Click to expand...
[1] How badly he wanted it isn't clear, but certainly significantly less than Wimbledon, which starts when exactly?
[2] It's been his most successful tournament.
[3] Redundant. No one is happy to lose.
 
There are a lot - a LOT - of fishy conflicts in tennis. Agencies owning tournaments, giving their guys WCs. Lack of transparency in general for WCs. Players sharing coaches. Players owning agencies. WTA players in relationships with coaches. Players becoming TDs as soon as they retire. And more stuff I'm forgetting.

But in this case I don't think there was anything fishy. Coric played the best grass tennis of his life this week. And Federer was looking lousy all week, just nobody had the game to beat him.
 
Gary Duane said:
I found this very strange today. You have a guy who is supposedly the coach of one player but manager of the other, and the managed player beats the coached player.

I had heard that Ljubicic is managing Coric, and today it got serious, with him beating Fed.

I'm wondering how that felt to team Fed?

You're still close to the top of the game. Your super coach is Croatian. The kid who beats you is also Croatian, 15 years younger, and managed by your coach.

Seems a bit odd to me.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I found that interesting too. I suppose Ljubicic was rooting for whoever pays him most-LOL! Chances are, that is Federer. I really like Coric and his game and hope this win gives him confidence to continue to rise in the ranks and win some slams.
 
Gary Duane said:
I found this very strange today. You have a guy who is supposedly the coach of one player but manager of the other, and the managed player beats the coached player.

I had heard that Ljubicic is managing Coric, and today it got serious, with him beating Fed.

I'm wondering how that felt to team Fed?

You're still close to the top of the game. Your super coach is Croatian. The kid who beats you is also Croatian, 15 years younger, and managed by your coach.

Seems a bit odd to me.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...


As I posted above, there's nothing strange about it at all IMO. Federer has a finite time on tour and Ljubicic has his own agency which is working with a bunch of younger players. Coric is only one of those players. Ljubicic needs to think about his future beyond being a coach to Federer.
 
cc0509 said:
As I posted above, there's nothing strange about it at all IMO. Federer has a finite time on tour and Ljubicic has his own agency which is working with a bunch of younger players. Coric is only one of those players. Ljubicic needs to think about his future beyond being a coach to Federer.
Click to expand...
I see a possible conflict of interest. You don't.

Time will tell. ;)
 
cc0509 said:
As I posted above, there's nothing strange about it at all IMO. Federer has a finite time on tour and Ljubicic has his own agency which is working with a bunch of younger players. Coric is only one of those players. Ljubicic needs to think about his future beyond being a coach to Federer.
Click to expand...

Not just one of those players, also a fellow contryman. Young tennis prospect from a small (and quite nationalistic and proud) country is kind of a big deal.

I can't be sure obviously but when the camera zoomed in on Ljubicic he did seem a bit conflicted to me, I don't think he was enjoying the situation one bit (not just because Fed was losing either).
 
Gary Duane said:
I see a possible conflict of interest. You don't.

Time will tell. ;)
Click to expand...

No, not really. Not given the age discrepancy between the two players and the fact that Federer is a couple of years away from retirement whereas Coric is just starting out. Ljub has to find a way to stabilize his own future. If Federer is ok with it then everybody else should be. A player like Coric is the type of player who can trouble Federer these days, i.e. a Djokovic type who is a ball-machine and is steady off both wings.
 
zagor said:
Not just one of those players, also a fellow contryman. Young tennis prospect from a small (and quite nationalistic and proud) country is kind of a big deal.

I can't be sure obviously but when the camera zoomed in on Ljubicic he did seem a bit conflicted to me, I don't think he was enjoying the situation one bit (not just because Fed was losing either).
Click to expand...

Well, if the Federer team comes out with an announcement soon, " After two years together, my partnership with Ivan Ljubicic has ended as Ivan has decided he wants to spend more time with his family." we'll know why! :)
 
cc0509 said:
No, not really. Not given the age discrepancy between the two players and the fact that Federer is a couple of years away from retirement whereas Coric is just starting out. Ljub has to find a way to stabilize his own future. If Federer is ok with it then everybody else should be. A player like Coric is the type of player who can trouble Federer these days, i.e. a Djokovic type who is a ball-machine and is steady off both wings.
Click to expand...
Don't see how you can argue with "time will tell". ;)
 
cc0509 said:
Well, if the Federer team comes out with an announcement soon, " After two years together, my partnership with Ivan Ljubicic has ended as Ivan has decided he wants to spend more time with his family." we'll know why! :)
Click to expand...

LOL, that BS line always makes me laugh. It is seemingly being used for 99% of high-profile coach-player separations in tennis.
 
zagor said:
LOL, that BS line always makes me laugh. It is seemingly being used for 99% of high-profile coach-player separations in tennis.
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And soon after, the coach who supposedly left to spend time with his family takes on another high profile coaching job.
 
zagor said:
LOL, that BS line always makes me laugh. It is seemingly being used for 99% of high-profile coach-player separations in tennis.
Click to expand...

It's particularly funny when you see them working with another player just a few weeks later or even re-uniting with the same guy they said they needed to spend time away with their family from.
 
Mainad said:
Yeah, same thing occurred to me when I learnt that he was Coric's Manager. I thought, "Hang on, he's coaching Federer and managing his opponent???" That must have been SOME conflict of interest going on there, no wonder he looked a bit uncertain watching the match as if unsure who he should be supporting. I too wonder if he and Fed will be parting company soon (amicably of course) and Ljubicic will then devote himself full time to his young compatriot's cause?
Click to expand...

Imagine how awkward it was with Nick Bollettieri coaching Jim Courier and Andre Agassi in the late 1980s. Agassi was seen like the golden boy, Courier was seen like a lumberjack.
 
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