Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is weighing up who will replace Goran Ivanisevic as his lead coach and a report in the Serbian media suggests he may may three female names in his sights.
Ivanisevic became the Serbian’s main coach in March 2022, having previously worked alongside Djokovic’s long-time mentor Marian Vajda for several years.
The world number one said he and Ivanisevic parted ways “a few days ago”, writing on Instagram: “I remember clearly the moment I invited Goran to be part of my team. It was back in 2018, and Marian and I were looking to innovate and bring some serve magic to our duo.
“In fact, not only we brought serve, but also lots of laughter, fun, year-end no1 rankings, record-breaking achievements and 12 more Grand Slams (and a few finals) to the count since then. Did I mention a bit of drama too?
“Goran and I decided to stop working together a few days ago. Our on-court chemistry had its ups and downs, but our friendship was always rock solid.
“In fact, I am proud to say (not sure he is) that apart from winning tournaments together, we also had a side battle in (the board game) Parchisi going on… for many years. And – that tournament never stops for us. Thanks for everything my friend. Love you.”
Djokovic went on to suggest he is not planning to appoint a full-time coach in the immediate future, as he suggested he will head into the clay court season without a mentor in his box.
Following Ivanisevic’s exit, Djokovic admitted that he doesn’t quite know yet whom he will turn to.
“I still don’t have a clear idea who a new coach would be, or whether there will be one at all,” he said.
“I’ve had coaches since I was a kid, now I am trying to feel by myself what I need, what I feel most comfortable with. You will be informed in case someone joins the team.”
Now a report has emerged from Serbia suggesting Djokovic may consider hiring a female coach to give him a new perspective on the game, with former top players Amelie Mauresmo and Conchita Martinez mentioned as contenders for the role in a report in Kurir Sport.
Intriguingly, the report also suggest Andy Murray’s mother Judy could be a candidate to work with Djokovic.
Mauresmo has experience working with a top player as she was Andy Murray’s coach when he was at the top of the game, while Martinez won the 2021 WTA Coach of the Year award for her work coaching Garbine Muguruza.
Judy Murray is one of the most respected coaches in the UK, but she has never had a full-time coaching role with a professional player on the ATP or WTA Tour.
If Djokovic was to appoint a female coach, it would cause a stir in tennis, with Murray’s move to hire Mauresmo in the summer of 2014 sparking some negative comments from others in the game.
“Before the French Open started that year I got asked in a press conference, who my next coach might be? Martina’s (Navratilova) name was put out there as a possibility,” said Murray, who was Wimbledon champion when he began working with Mauresmo.
“It was then put out in the press that I was considering working with a female coach and I started getting messages from other players, from their coaches saying that they couldn’t believe I was playing this game with the media and that I should tell them tomorrow that I was considering working with a dog.
“I never had experienced that before because I’d never worked with a female coach on tour.
“When I’d lost matches previously in my career nobody had questioned my coach, in tennis it is generally the individual who gets questioned,” he said. “That wasn’t the case when I was working with Amelie.
“It’s one of my regrets that I didn’t win a Grand Slam when I was working with her – for a lot of people that was considered a failure.
“I feel that she was harshly judged by a lot of people, purely because she was a woman.”
Novak Djokovic and his camp have not commented on the coaching candidates who may work with him, with the prospect of a female voice being added to his team a compelling talking point.
