Novak Djokovic won nine grand slams with Goran Ivanisevic (right) by his side – John Walton/PA
Novak Djokovic has split with his coach Goran Ivanisevic in the latest evidence of unrest in the world No 1’s camp.
Even though Djokovic has just racked up an almost unthinkable 418th week at the top of the rankings, he has lacked his usual sharpness this season and suffered a shock loss to world No 123 Luca Nardi in Indian Wells a fortnight ago.
The departure of Ivanisevic feels in keeping with the whole narrative of Djokovic’s 2024, in which he has yet to reach a tournament final.
The two men had worked together since 2018, with Ivanisevic spending a lot of that time looking stressed in Djokovic’s player box. During matches, he tended to remain understated, while fitness trainer Marco Panichi offered a more emotional response to the various ebbs and flows.
Croatia’s Ivanisevic – who is 52 – was a Wimbledon champion in his own right, famously claiming the title in 2001 as a wild card after coming through a dramatic, rain-affected semi-final against Tim Henman that had to be played over three days.
Ivanisevic originally joined the Djokovic camp as an aide to Marian Vajda, who has been Djokovic’s most influential coach since childhood mentor Jelena Gencic. But when Vajda left the team at the end of the 2021 season, Ivanisevic took over the central role.
“He’s a genius,” said Ivanisevic of Djokovic after last year’s US Open. “He’s one of kind. There are not too many people in this world like him sport-wise.”
Djokovic revealed the news on Instagram in a post that also paid tribute to Ivanisevic’s work. “I remember clearly the moment I invited Goran to be part of my team,” Djokovic wrote. “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? #Nolefam [Djokovic’s group of hardcore supporters] would know.
“Goran and I decided to stop working together a few days ago,” Djokovic added. “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 Parchisi [a Ludo-style board game] going on … for many years. And that tournament never stops for us.”
Djokovic withdrew from this week’s event in Miami on the grounds that “at this stage of my career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule”. He has since posted social media photographs of himself attending a bar in Miami and posing with his wife Jelena overlooking the ocean.
His No 1 ranking remains safe for the time being, whatever happens in the Miami finals this weekend. But the emerging duo of Carlos Alcaraz – who won Indian Wells – and the recent Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner are drawing closer.
Djokovic has yet to recover momentum after throwing in a stinker of a performance against Sinner in the semi-final of the Australian Open, which is usually his January banker. At the moment, he is expected to return to the match court in Monte Carlo, where his clay-court campaign is scheduled to begin in just under three weeks’ time.
