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Playing with childhood idol Ivanisevic a real privilege for UAE Royals' Mladenovic

Rising French tennis star Kristina Mladenovic still can’t believe she’s on the same team International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) with one of her childhood idols. She’s also trying to wrap her head around the fact that he loves to make fun of her all the time.

Mladenovic let out a laugh when asked what her UAE Royals teammate, retired great Goran Ivanisevic, was like off the court.

“Like you saw on the court, he’s so entertaining,” said the 21-year-old of Serbian ancestry. “I rarely see somebody so funny.”

Ivanisevic, one of the more colorful characters on the men’s tennis tour during his playing years, has won the hearts of fans in Manila with his funny demeanor and antics. But for Mladenovic, rubbing elbows and practicing with a player she grew up idolizing has been a surreal experience.

“I feel privileged that I can meet him and be close friends with him, because growing up I was really a fan,” she said. “And here with the team, he’s just making fun of me. And I’m like, 'Wow. I used to watch this guy, this champion on TV and supported (when I was) a little child. And now he’s with me in practice and he’s making fun of me and supporting me on the court.'”

Mladenovic is already a double Grand Slam champion, having won two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, teaming up with the Manila Mavericks’ Daniel Nestor to win the 2013 Wimbledon and 2014 Australian Open titles, but she remains in awe of her teammates.

“It’s incredible to have all these champions around,” she shared “We’re all overwhelmed.”

Aside from Ivanisevic, who won Wimbledon in 2001, the Royals have US Open champ Marin Cilic and one-time Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych. They will be joined in the succeeding IPTL legs by world no. 1 Novak Djokovic and former women’s no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki,

Mladenovic is playing in both women’s singles and mixed doubles. On Friday she blew a 5-2 lead against Maria Sharapova and ended up losing 6-5. But on Saturday, she vented her ire on Daniela Hantuchova, winning 6-1.

“Today (Saturday) was much better,” she said. “Yesterday was the first match. We both didn;t have time to adjust to the arena. I dropped my concentration, to be honest. We just arrived two days ago from home.”