Hiring Ivan Lendl as his coach helped Andy Murray become a grand slam winner. Now, the Briton’s rival, Novak Djokovic, has turned to the man who taught Lendl to boost his own game.
The world No 1 hired Wojtek Fibak to join his coaching team ahead of the US Open, and the Serbian is pleased to have the Pole with him.
After winning his opening-round match, at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday, beating the Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, he said: “We worked very well the last six, seven days of the preparations for the Open and tonight’s match went really well. He has an important role in the team. He’s consulting me.”
Djokovic, who has not won a tournament since April, said that he and his coaching team felt that Fibak’s expertise could help him win the US Open for a second time. “We all agreed that we might need that extra help and consultation,” he added. “Wojtek Fibak was the right person for us at that moment.
“He joined the team this year for the US Open. It’s kind of a trial in this tournament to see how it goes, how he’s going to fit in the team.”
Fibak, who turns 61 tomorrow, reached a career-best 10th in the rankings in 1977. He won 15 career titles and, after retiring, became a coach. He guided Lendl, who won eight majors, for five years.
“He shares a big love and passion for this sport,” Djokovic said. “I think he has a great input and a great way of observing the tennis matches so, hopefully, we can work together very well in this tournament.”
– Agence France-Presse
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Kanye%20West
%3Cp%3EYe%20%E2%80%94%20the%20rapper%20formerly%20known%20as%20Kanye%20West%20%E2%80%94%20has%20seen%20his%20net%20worth%20fall%20to%20%24400%20million%20in%20recent%20weeks.%20That%E2%80%99s%20a%20precipitous%20drop%20from%20Bloomberg%E2%80%99s%20estimates%20of%20%246.8%20billion%20at%20the%20end%20of%202021.%3Cbr%3EYe%E2%80%99s%20wealth%20plunged%20after%20business%20partners%2C%20including%20Adidas%2C%20severed%20ties%20with%20him%20on%20the%20back%20of%20anti-Semitic%20remarks%20earlier%20this%20year.%3Cbr%3EWest%E2%80%99s%20present%20net%20worth%20derives%20from%20cash%2C%20his%20music%2C%20real%20estate%20and%20a%20stake%20in%20former%20wife%20Kim%20Kardashian%E2%80%99s%20shapewear%20firm%2C%20Skims.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
