DOHA // World No 1 Novak Djokovic conceded on Sunday it will be bizarre to see his friend Ivan Ljubicic helping coach one of his greatest rivals, Roger Federer, this season.
“Yes! Honestly, yes,” said Djokovic, when asked if he would find it strange to see the Croat as part of the Swiss legend’s coaching staff. “But you know, again, we are professionals.”
It was announced in December that Ljubicic, a former world No 3, would be hired in a move widely interpreted as Federer trying to find a way to defeat a dominant Djokovic, who won three grand slam titles last year and was also a finalist in the French Open.
“He [Ljubicic] knows my game, he knows the game of all Roger’s opponents, and I think that’s one of the reasons why Roger has hired him to be with him on the team,” said Djokovic, speaking ahead of his first tournament of the season, the Qatar Open, which begins on Monday.
“Whether it’s going to work or not, that’s something to see for all of us, but I wish them all the best. He’s a great guy, very calm, very composed, and I am sure Roger knows why he hired him.”
Federer has denied that the Croat has been hired just to help him overcome the Serb.
ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal tips 'amazing champion' Carlos Moya to help Milos Raonic reach next level
Djokovic also said he was well-rested from his winter break and was “very excited” to start again on the tour.
Given his performance last season there has been speculation that Djokovic could become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four majors in a single season.
There is also the extra prize of a “fifth major” this season, with an Olympics gold medal up for grabs in Rio in August.
The Serb said he would play to win every match.
“Grand Slams and Olympic Games are the priority of the season, but it’s a long season, so I can’t really predict what’s going to happen or guarantee if I am going to win any of the grand slams or all four.
“Of course, I am going to try to win every tournament and every grand slam that I play on, that’s kind of the mindset that I have.”
Djokovic kicks off his season on Monday though it is still not yet known who will come through the qualifiers to face him in the first round.
Doha last year represented one of his rare failures as Ivo Karlovic beat him in three seats in the quarter-finals.
Also playing in Doha this year is Rafael Nadal and defending champion David Ferrer.
Djokovic added money was not a “priority” after it was revealed he and Federer were in a race to become the first US$100 million (Dh367m) in tennis.
“Money is not really why I am playing this sport,” he said.
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Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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THE SCORES
Ireland 125 all out
(20 overs; Stirling 72, Mustafa 4-18)
UAE 125 for 5
(17 overs, Mustafa 39, D’Silva 29, Usman 29)
UAE won by five wickets
PSL FINAL
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
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MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
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Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
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Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
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Film: Raid
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Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Biography
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Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
Results:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 2,410m | Winner: Bin Battuta, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Al Hayette, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m | Winner: Faatinah, Jim Crowley, David Hayes
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m | Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott
