Novak Djokovic is preparing to play his first clay court tournament of 2024, with the world No 1 facing huge question marks ahead of his first match in Monte-Carlo.
The exit of long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic and question marks over his long-term commitment to the sport after he withdrew from the Miami Open to spend more time with his family has sparked suggestions that Djokovic’s motivation is waning.
Ivanisevic confirmed the 24-time Grand Slam king was no longer as motivated by ATP 1000 events as he had been over the course of his career and that is only natural for a player who has won more of these tournaments than anyone in the history of the men’s game.
“It’s not easy to come every day to training and to motivate yourself,” Ivanisevic told Tennis Major.
“It’s easier for the Grand Slams, but for these Masters (tournaments), it’s hard to train with intensity over and over again, even for a perfectionist such as he.
“It requires strength, passion, and willpower. He wanted something different, to be more with family (and missed the Miami Open).
“I believe that Novak will find motivation, I am sure of it. I wish him Olympic gold with all my heart, even more than the Slams.”
They were comments Djokovic did not dispute as he faced the media in his pre-tournament press conference in Monte-Carlo, yet writing off the most successful tennis player in the men’s game is a risk game.
In the opinion of former British No 1 Laura Robson, this type of pessimism has hovered around Djokovic in the past and he has always come up with the right answers.
“I feel like every couple of years there’s been a conversation about Djokovic saying that he isn’t playing well and then he comes back and wins tournaments for six months straight,” Robson told Sky Sports Tennis.
“I think what makes it different this time is that the level of competition is definitely harder given where (Jannik) Sinner and (Carlos) Alcaraz have been playing unbelievably well so maybe that just puts a few thoughts into his mind.
“His performance at Indian Wells might have put a few thoughts into his mind about what he needs to change. It’s not that Djokovic needs to keep up because he’s definitely at the same level but just try and improve. You might think can Djokovic even improve anymore because he’s so good and that’s valid.
“In a way though, I think it makes it more fun because it’s more competitive and more exciting. Now we feel like it’s not only going to be Djokovic winning every tournament.
“Another thing to point out is that Djokovic split from his long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this month.
“Djokovic and Ivanisevic got along really well and like with a lot of coaching relationships, things just run its course and you felt like they were an old married couple because they had been together for so long.
“They knew so much about each other and there was some bickering as well over the last few months on the court and in the box. I think when you know, you know.
“He’s been on tour so long and sometimes you just need a fresh voice. I read in a Serbian newspaper that Ivanisevic said they had run out of things to say to each other and had exhausted all conversations. It seems like they both knew it was time rather than it being one-sided which is always good.”
Novak Djokovic will get a chance to do his talking on the court in Monte-Carlo, as he looks to lift the title in a location he sees as his second home for the first time since 2015.
