Novak Djokovic, the world’s number one tennis player, announced on Wednesday the end of his five-year partnership with coach Goran Ivanisevic, a collaboration that saw them clinch 12 Grand Slam titles together.
Djokovic enlisted the expertise of Croatia’s 2001 Wimbledon champion ahead of the grass court Grand Slam in 2019. Despite their fruitful collaboration, Djokovic admitted to fluctuations in their on-court chemistry.
The Serbian star endured a subpar start to the year, including a semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open and a surprising defeat to Sinner’s compatriot Luca Nardi at Indian Wells.
Taking to Instagram, Djokovic shared the news of their split, acknowledging the highs and lows of their professional relationship while emphasizing the enduring friendship between them.
“Goran and I decided to stop working together a few days ago,” Djokovic wrote. “Our on-court chemistry had its ups and downs, but our friendship was always rock solid.”
Djokovic expressed gratitude for Ivanisevic’s contributions beyond tennis strategy, noting his charisma and personality. He also credited Ivanisevic for injecting laughter and fun into their partnership.
Their collaboration, Djokovic recalled, began in 2018 when he and head coach Marian Vajda sought to introduce new elements to their team, particularly focusing on enhancing Djokovic’s serve.
“In fact, not only did we bring serve, but also lots of laughter, fun, year-end No.1 rankings, record-breaking achievements and 12 more Grand Slams (and a few finals) to the count since then,” Djokovic reflected.
The split marks the end of a significant chapter in Djokovic’s career, as he now seeks to chart a new path forward on the ATP Tour.
With AFP
