The Serbian tennis player spoke at an event in Belgrade after announcing his split with Goran Ivanisevic.
Novak Djokovic has spoken publicly for the first time after announcing his split with Goran Ivanisevic as his coach. The Serbian tennis player participated in a tribute event for his former coach Nikola Pilic in Belgrade, where he was asked about this split and about his future.
Djokovic wanted to clarify that, despite the end of their professional relationship, he maintains a great friendship with Ivanisevic in a breakup that occurred smoothly.
“First of all, Goran is a lifelong friend of mine and my family. He is a person very dear to me, and the end of our collaboration does not mean that our friendship ends. Our separation has been positive, as positive as it can be. We reached a point where we were tired of our cooperation after almost five years,” he said, according to AS.
Djokovic also highlighted the support he received from Ivanisevic during some of the most challenging moments of his career, such as his disqualification at the US Open 2020 or the controversy over the Serbian’s deportation before the Australian Open 2022.
“Together we have written history in our sport, we have won Grand Slams, finished seasons as the world number one, but we have also faced challenges and problems like the disqualification at the US Open, my deportation in Australia. I will always remember that he was there as a person and as a human being first, and that he brought a series of good values into our relationship. That chemistry was accompanied by great results, and I wish Goran all the best.”
However, Djokovic did not clear up the mystery about who will be his new coach from now on and even does not rule out the possibility of playing without a coach, surrounded only by his closest team.
“I do not have a clear idea of who will be my new coach, or if I will have one. I’ve had coaches since I was a kid and now I’m trying to feel for myself what I need, what I am most comfortable with. I will inform you if someone joins the team.”
