Goran Ivanisevic - "Novak Djokovic is the best player ever"
Goran Ivanisevic leans very far out of the window for his protégé: The 48-year-old Croatian says that Novak Djokovic is unbeatable when he plays his best tennis.
by Robin Huiber
last edit: Feb 17, 2020, 08:30 am
Goran Ivanisevic has been an integral part of the “Team Djokovic” since last summer. In a recent interview with the SK portal, he underscored his great conviction about the performance of the Djoker: "For me, he is already the best player of all time [...]. If he is present, ready and healthy, there is no better […]. Other people will decide what exactly is considered at the end of the career, but I think Novak will be the best in all relevant categories. "
At least the start of the season, Ivanisevic, who led Marin Cilic as coach in 2014 to win the US Open, is right. The number one in the world started the year 2020 with 13 wins in a row in Australia. In the course of his successful run, he even beat every single player in the top five in the ATP world rankings: Daniil Medvedev (No. 5) in the ATP Cup semi-final, Rafael Nadal (No. 2) in the ATP Cup final, Roger Federer ( No. 3) in the semifinals of the Australian Open and Dominic Thiem in the final of the Australian Open. Consequently, he also won the title of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year and brought Serbia victory in the ATP Cup. With decisive contributions also in doubles.
Ivanisevic actually only wanted to play the celebrity tournament at the Australian Open and agreed to leave the coaching to Marian Vajda - especially in the final phase of the tournament, the Wimbledon winner from 2001 was back in the box of the now eight-time Melbourne champion.
Djokovic on sand against Nadal favorite?
Goran Ivanisevic is also convinced that it is only a matter of time before his protege breaks Roger Federer's records: “[Novak Djokovic] will most likely be the record number one in the world rankings for most weeks after the US Open this year and most of the Grand Slam tournament successes next year ”.
The Maestro is still number one in these two categories with 20 Grand Slam victories and 310 weeks. In contrast, Djokovic has 17 Grand Slam victories and 277 weeks as the world number one. Rafael Nadal, who has 19 major triumphs, should not be forgotten in the discussion about the best player of all time. In relation to the Spaniard's clay court strength, the statement that a well-playing Djokovic is unbeatable is at least questionable. Would a top Novak Djokovic really beat a top Rafael Nadal in his living room on the center court of the French Open? And maybe on the way there must be against Dominic Thiem, against whom he lost in five sets in Roland Garros last year?
Goran Ivanisevic often didn't look good on the red ashes during his active career. In Paris, however, Marian Vajda is again planned as Djokovic's main advisor. And with that, the Serbian lifted the winner's cup in 2016 at the Bois de Boulogne.