Novak Djokovic rocked the tennis world recently, calling time on an exceptional partnership with the former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanišević.
It was a move nobody was expecting, especially considering how many titles the pair had won since 2018. Nevertheless, digging deeper can reveal clues as to the reason why.
Keep reading for a comprehensive analysis of potentially the most impactful tennis coaching division in 2024. Will the decision pay off for Djokovic? And what’s next for Ivanišević? Catch all the news below.
About the Ivanišević and Djokovic partnership
Djokovic and Ivanišević formed one of the most successful tennis coaching partnerships in modern history. To put things into perspective, here’s a complete list of the Grand Slams they won together:
● Wimbledon (2018)
● US Open (2018)
● Australian Open (2019)
● Wimbledon (2019)
● US Open (2019)
● Australian Open (2020)
● Australian Open (2021)
● French Open (2021)
● Wimbledon (2021)
● Wimbledon (2022)
● Australian Open (2023)
● French Open (2023)
● US Open (2023)
Why did Ivanišević and Djokovic split?
Djokovic announced the split with Goran Ivanišević in late March, causing shockwaves within the tennis community. Why have such a successful duo stopped working with each other? It’s a question on the lips of many tennis fans, especially considering the reason wasn’t particularly obvious, despite the setback at the Australian Open.
The Serbian great, widely recognized as one of the best tennis players in history, had this to say about the relationship with another ex-Yugoslavian icon, Ivanišević:
“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 No 1 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.”
It’s clear from these words that there is no animosity between the pair, although Ivanišević’s admission that Djokovic can be extremely difficult to work with when he’s stressed was probably a factor. He has kept himself at the top of the game for so long that it’s only natural that the pressure and anger at losing out may get too much.
This is particularly true when you consider how close Novak came to winning an unprecedented calendar Grand Slam in 2023. With more up-and-comers like Casper Ruud beating Djokovic recently, he may feel like a shock was needed to avert a potential slump.
Will Djokovic prosper from the shock coaching split?
Djokovic has traditionally been extremely resilient in the face of career disruptions, although Ivanišević went a long way in helping the Serb overcome the mental stumbling blocks that occasionally handed Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal the upper hand. Their relationship was fiery at times, but the respect between the two tennis greats was evident. It also helped that both could converse in their native Serbo-Croat, generating a closer bond.
Despite the positives, Djokovic may be accurate in his assessment that a bit of shock therapy can revert his gradual slump from the top. Jannik Sinner emerged victorious at the 2024 Australian Open, something Novak will be itching to put right at the remaining three Grand Slams.
But will Djokovic be able to lift the Wimbledon trophy for the eighth time? The Serb will have his eye on one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments of the calendar year, but new foes like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner might have something to say about that. It’s a particularly prominent question for sports bettors, who have been able to bank on Djokovic winning at least one Grand Slam a year for the last decade and a half.
What next for Goran Ivanišević?
Ivanišević has clearly shown his pedigree as a tennis coach over the past several years, so the Croat will be in high demand after a short rest period. He has, in the past, expressed his desire to work with younger players, so this is a probable avenue.
There aren’t many indications as to exactly who Ivanišević would coach, though. Will it be a young player already making waves on the circuit? Or perhaps a more obscure prodigy? There is no shortage of talented tennis players coming from Serbia and Croatia nowadays, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the legendary icon coaching another player close to home.
Written by Max Cunningham
