Djere hires former Roland-Garros finalist Puerta as new coach

“Don’t tell him we didn’t recognise him – he has changed!“ Serbian journalists told Laslo Djere as he was introducing his new coach.

A former world No 9 who won three titles in his career, but is probably best known for his run to the Roland Garros finals 2005, who won the first set against the future King of Clay, but in the end Rafael Nadal won first out of his 14 titles at Phillippe Chatrier stadium – now Mariano Puerta is the new coach of Laslo Djere, the former world No 27.

“We were supposed to start in Bucharest, but due to all the physical problems I’ve had, we just started a few days ago,“ Djere told Tennis Majors.

“This is a trial, we’ll work together for some time, until the summer tournaments on clay end, and then we’ll see – we need a bit of time to get to know each other.”

Djere: I am excited to work with Puerta

Djere split with his long-time coach Jaroslav Lewinsky following the Australian Open, but encountered numerous troubles in attempting to regain his form, with the biggest of all was being elbow surgery.

He added: “Puerta stopped working with (Brandon) Nakashima after Houston. He has been living in the USA for the last ten years, but he wanted to come back to the Tour. I needed a coach and he needed a player, so an agent introduced us. He is a really decent and nice person, he was a top player, so he has vast tennis knowledge, particularly when it comes to clay. I am excited to work with him.”

Djere also hired a new physiotherapist in Croat Toni Nenadic, while his fitness coach remains the same – Sasa Jankovic.

“I’ve been working on my fitness for a month, I’ve started a few days after the surgery, so I am physically well. Tennis-wise, I’ve been practicing for two weeks now, upping the intensity on a daily basis. I came to Paris on Wednesday, I was already fit enough to practise for two hours on a high level, so I am positive about my game. My elbow doesn’t hurt, the serve is not totally right yet, but I am just grateful to even be here, I didn’t expect it,“ concluded Djere, who is due to play Daniel Altmaier in the first round of Roland-Garros on Sunday.

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