Djokovic coach Goran Ivanisevic: "For me Novak is the best and most complete player of all time"
Goran Ivanisevic was full of praise forNovak Djokovic in an interview. The Croat even considers his protégé to be the best player of all time.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Mar 02, 2021, 09:55 am
"This is without a doubt one of the most special victories of my career," said Novak Djokovic after his third round victory over Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open. What happened? The world number one had injured his abdominal muscles during the third set and, according to his own statements, even thought of a task, but still dragged himself over the finish line in five sets.
About a week later it was again the Serbian who triumphed in Melbourne. Quite a few critics doubted whether the grandiose performance in the final against Daniil Medvedev afterwards the extent of the injury. For Djokovic coach Goran Ivanisevic an injustice: "The most perfidious - actually the saddest - were accusations that he was faking an injury. Why on earth should he do that? Why should the best player in the world come up with an injury? He led 2-0 in sets at the time! If another top player is injured, it is considered a heroic act if he just steps on the field. But if it's Novak, he fakes it, "the Croatian said in an interview with tennis majors .
Ivanisevic trusts Nadal to win more Paris titles
After the Adria Tour last year, criticism of Djokovic increased significantly, but this was again a new dimension, said Ivanisevic. His mental strength helped the world number one to survive all that and to assert himself in Melbourne: "Novak is simply stronger than everyone else and it is difficult for people to admit that."
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With the 18th Grand Slam title, Djokovic now has the chance again to overtake Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (20 each): "I think that Rafa will win at least one more time in Roland Garros. It was therefore important that Novak is keeping up. The race is open and interesting. "
The next big goal for Djokovic is now the French Open in Paris, although Ivanisevic sees Nadal in Paris as the number one title contender: "Rafa is the favorite, no question, but the favorites don't always win." In order to have a chance against the Spaniard on the Philippe Chatrier court, Djokovic must first and foremost be at one hundred percent fitness.
Djokovic probably doesn't play in Miami
For this reason, the industry leader will probably do without the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Miami. "There is no reason to take risks. I would rather see that he is 100 percent fit for the clay court season so that he can once again aim for the Roland Garros title," said Ivanisevic.
For the 2001 Wimbledon winner, one thing is already certain: "For me Novak is the best and most complete player of all time, for someone else it's Nadal or Federer." Ultimately, who is the best player of all time would depend on personal preference anyway: "It will be an interesting topic for discussion when their careers are over."
You can find the entire interview with Goran Ivanisevic here