Novak Djokovic: The 36-year-old is feeling confident. (Image: Getty)
“Goran Ivanisevic, Novak Djokovic’s coach since 2019, provides insights into his role within the world No. 1’s team. Ivanisevic, who has been alongside Djokovic for nine of his 24 Grand Slam triumphs, candidly shares that occasional disagreements with Djokovic are a part of their dynamic and humorously remarks that he’s often the one to shoulder the blame.”
Djokovic and Ivanisevic have proven to be a formidable player and coach duo, achieving instant success together when they teamed up ahead of Wimbledon four years ago. Ivanisevic is a former Wimbledon champion who reached No 2 in the world during his playing days, so he understands the pressures the 36-year-old faces.
The pair have previously hinted at some tough times off the court, with Djokovic claiming he “tortured” his team behind closed doors during his French Open victory speech. And Ivanisevic confirmed that things could get stressful among the team, as he was always given the blame.
“There is stress. There are five of us in the team, but it’s always my fault for everything. That’s how it goes with the coach,” the Croat laughed, speaking at the Entrepreneurial Attitude conference. But Ivanisevic said he “loved” his job, admitting it was good to argue.
He continued: “On the court, people saw me as a savage or semi-savage, but I’m quite different off the court. I’m quite calm. No one believed that I could become a good coach. You need to know how to bury the ego. You don’t matter anymore. The player is important.
“It is not easy to motivate him because he has already won everything, but we have a way. Many times we don’t agree, but it’s a good thing to ‘argue; on the field. I love this job. This job can only be done if you love it and if you have the support of your family. If you don’t know how to deal with stress, which is always present, you can’t even do this job.”
Piling the praise on his charge, Ivanisevic added: “I am lucky to be training a genius, the best tennis player of all time and one of the best athletes ever. It’s unfortunate that only wins count. The final is no good, it’s like you didn’t even come to the tournament.”
And the Croat explained that he had a level of understanding with Djokovic, who hails from Serbia. “It’s easier for me because we come from this area. I understand a lot of the things he’s going to do and I’m prepared for them in advance. I also did some, but now as a coach I need to be more calm and composed,” he said.
Ivanisevic has been enjoying some time off after Djokovic withdrew from the Asian swing to take a short break following his historic 24th Grand Slam victory at the US Open. But the world No 1 will be back in action later this month, returning at the Paris Masters before finishing his season with the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup.
