Goran Ivanisevic’s 2001: A Wimbledon Odyssey – reads like fiction but astonishingly is true. As children we are inundated with tall tales with fairytale endings. It seemed highly improbable that the gifted yet often unpredictable and entertaining Croat would get his fairytale ending at the cathedral of tennis – Centre Court at Wimbledon. Once upon a time, in 1992 a charismatic young man from Split, Croatia found himself in the finals of the most venerated Grand Slam tournament in the world.

The year prior, Ivanisevic lost in the second round to a wild card entrant. In 1992, as the eighth seed, he was the favorite heading into the final against the flamboyant and brazen Las Vegas native, Andre Agassi. Ivanisevic’s serve, at once a lethal weapon, would all too often hasten his demise. After winning the first set in a thrilling tiebreaker, he would lose the next two and eventually the match, 6-4 in the fifth.

Always gracious and humble in defeat, Ivanisevic firmly believed he would one day have his moment on the most revered center court in tennis. He could not have predicted, however, that it would take nine years, a wild card allotted by the All England Club and a lot rain to launch his destiny.

It would be another two years before he made another Wimbledon final and this time he would square off against the defending champion and future king of grass – Pete Sampras. After competing so well in the first two sets, it would appear he was overwhelmed with insecurity and lost in straight sets 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5), 6–0.  

Four more years would pass before Ivanisevic made another final at the All England Club. Would the third time be a charm? In actuality, Goran Ivanisevic’s third Wimbledon final in 1998 – his second against Sampras – would be his most discouraging effort and the nail in his coffin.

In 1994, he would achieve a career high ranking of number two in the world. After his devastating loss to Pete Sampras in the 1998 final, his ranking dropped to twelve in the world. This writer unequivocally contends this loss was far more emotionally damaging than the other two because Sampras was clearly off and the odds are incredibly low that one will play a sub-par Sampras on grass at Wimbledon. In just under three hours, Sampras would prevail in a five-set thriller 6–7(2–7), 7–6(11–9), 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 and once again sent Ivanisevic home with the runner-up trophy.

By the spring of 2001, his ranking had plummeted to 132 in the world and as a result, would not be eligible for automatic main draw entry at the slams. As a three-time finalist, the All England Club granted Ivanisevic a wild card and he took full advantage.

Ivanisevic would take out Marat Safin, the reigning US Open champion in the quarters, Tim Henman in the semis over the course of three days due to rain and Patrick Rafter, the 2000 Wimbledon finalist on Monday, in a rain-delayed final. He would hold his nerve and serve to defeat Rafter in five sets to claim that elusive Wimbledon crown.  

He would become the first wild card entrant to win Wimbledon in addition to hitting the most aces in a tournament. On route to winning his first Wimbledon title, Ivanisevic served 213 aces. His serve would serve as inspiration and motivation for his new charge, fellow Croat, Marin Cilic.

Goran Ivanisevic became Marin Cilic’s coach in 2013 when Cilic was suspended from the ATP Tour due to a positive drug screen. On appeal, Cilic’s suspension was reduced from nine months to four. During this time, he encouraged Cilic to relax more on court while stepping into the court during baseline exchanges. In addition, he reworked Cilic’s serve given his supreme height advantage at 6’6.

This was a most fruitful partnership for within a year, Cilic was a Grand Slam champion. In 2014 at the US Open, Marin Cilic defeated Tomas Berdych in the quarters, an in-form Roger Federer in the semis and Kei Nishikori in the final without dropping a set.

Cilic moves exceptionally well given his stature and with his retooled serve and explosive baseline game should replicate, if not exceed his quarterfinal finish last year at Wimbledon. Cilic has quite a favorable draw with John Isner, a potential third round opponent and Kei Nishikori a potential 4th round opponent. Cilic is 4-0 (0 matches on grass) versus Isner and though he trails Nishikori in their head to head 3-5 (0 matches on grass), their last meeting was the most significant – the 2014 US Open final.

Last year at the All England Club, Cilic took eventual champion, Novak Djokovic to the brink in the quarterfinals in an exhilarating, highly competitive five set match. Currently ranked 9th and seeded 9th this year at Wimbledon, Cilic’s toughest opponent will once again be Novak Djokovic- his potential quarterfinal opponent.

The reigning US Open champion is no longer a dark horse - he is a contender to claim the most coveted crown in tennis. Sometimes, fairytales do come true; perhaps this fortnight with his revamped game, improved mental clarity and Goran Ivanisevic by his side, Cilic can replicate his coach's remarkable and magical odyssey to Wimbledon glory. It's wonderful to know, Cilic is well on his way.