Ivanisevic says Djokovic is not done yet: “It wouldn’t surprise me to see him in Los Angeles as well”
In a Tennis Majors exclusive, Novak Djokovic’s former coach Goran Ivanisevic reveals what impressed him the most about the Serbian’s win in Paris, and a wish he still has for Djokovic, among many other things
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“Considering how crazy he is, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in Los Angeles as well,” Goran Ivanisevic said, laughing as he spoke from his home in Zagreb. Ivanisevic coached Novak Djokovic for nearly five years. Now from afar, he witnessed Djokovic realising the dream they had shared together.
The morning after Djokovic’s magnificent 7-6 (3) 7-6 (2) win over Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Paris Olympics at Roland-Garros, we spoke to Ivanisevic on the phone. He watched the Olympic finals from the comfort of his home and believes Djokovic could even play in the Los Angeles Games in 2028, if he wants to.
“This is just incredible, it was written somewhere that it had to happen like this,” Ivanisevic told Tennis Majors. “First trophy this season – Olympic gold! This scenario is the best, the sweetest. Injury, surgery, bad Wimbledon final, but on Sunday we saw what will and desire can make you do. When Novak plays the way he can, he is the best in the world, nobody can touch him.”
Ivanisevic: “He wanted it so badly”
The two were together in Tokyo three years ago, where Djokovic was up a set and a break against Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, but didn’t get the job done. This time he did, and then some.
“We spoke about it so many times, it was one of my greatest wishes for him, he wanted it badly and that’s why it was so emotional for everyone,” he said.
Ivanisevic was particularly impressed with Djokovic’s level against Alcaraz, a transformation from their Wimbledon final, when the Spaniard had won easily.
“Fascinating. It is an amazing switch he was able to make in his mind, Wimbledon was only two-three weeks ago,” he said. “The will, the desire, the strength… Alcaraz is 16 years younger, hits harder and is quicker, but Novak made it look like Carlos isn’t younger, quicker and doesn’t hit harder.”
“When he really wants it, nobody can beat him”
Similar to many occasions throughout his career, a lot of people doubted whether Djokovic could ever play at his highest level again. Ivanisevic never doubted him.
“Only a crazy person would say that he doesn’t have it in him anymore,” he said. “When he really wants it, nobody can beat him, regardless of who is across the net. He was smart, he played aggressively and hit every shot with conviction. Alcaraz hits hard, but Novak hits even harder! I think that surprised Carlos, made him a bit nervous. It is easier said than done, but that’s the key – to make Alcaraz nervous and to force him into some errors. That’s what happened in the second set tie break – Alcaraz knew that he would be punished for a shorter ball, and he made some errors. It’s not easy to pull off what Novak did, but again, he wanted it so much.”
There was no need for further questions, Ivanisevic kept going, speaking from his soul.
“Novak didn’t show up in the Wimbledon finals, but here you could tell… If they stayed for five more hours on that court, the outcome would have been the same. Novak was flying, Novak was dancing. People forgot that this was his first Olympics final, he felt that this is it, that he has to seize this opportunity. Although, considering how crazy he is, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in Los Angeles in 2028 as well.”
Ivanisevic: “If he is motivated, he’s the man to beat at the US Open”
Ivanisevic and Djokovic communicated by text message before the final. “Now I know how busy he is, a lot of people are congratulating him,” Ivanisevic said. “We’ll talk, there is time.”
Ivanisevic has more wishes for Djokovic.
“I am so glad that he finally won this gold<” he said. “I wish him 25th Slam, to break the absolute record, and then he can retire, although he will never retire, this guy. I think he can find the motivation, the gold will lift him. If he plays like this, he is the man to beat at the US Open. At Wimbledon, it was a miracle that he even played, let alone reached the finals, but we never know if something similar to this year’s Australian Open can happen. Against (Jannik) Sinner there, he didn’t show up – we don’t have a crystal ball, but if he is motivated like here, he will be the favourite in New York.”
Djokovic has won everything, he “completed tennis“, as Andy Roddick put it on social media. So, what is next?
“We’ll watch him for a long time, they can’t get rid of him!” he said. “In my opinion, he is one of the greatest athletes of all time. Whether he is top 5, top 3 or top 2, that’s the matter of opinion, but he is up there.”
