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Goran Ivanisevic: “When I said that Novak and Rafa would overtake Roger, people looked at me strangely…”

Goran Ivanisevic doesn’t have the least pleasant job in the world. Coaching Novak Djokovic, that puts you in good stead for success, even by proxy. The Croatian never ceases to be amazed by his player, winner on Sunday of his 10th Australian Open and his 22nd Grand Slam tournament.

I learn all the time with him, this guy is amazingblows the winner of Wimbledon in 2001. He’s getting crazier and crazier, I can tell you, but in a positive way. I don’t even know how to describe it in words anymore. With Novak I always think I’ve seen it all, but I’m sure tomorrow he’ll surprise me again.”

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On the other hand, he is not surprised to see him today not only up to Rafael Nadal, but two notches ahead of Roger Federer, in the race for the record of the greatest number of major titles. He did not wait to be Djokovic’s coach to predict such a change. “Eight or nine years ago I said that Novak and Rafa would overtake Rogerhe recalls. When I said that, people looked at me strangely. And here we are at 22-22. Now it’s a bit like a handball match between Serbia and Spain. It’s 22-22 and the duel is not over. This season is going to be interesting.”

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Their biggest challenge now is staying healthy

However, if the two champions are on the same line on the scale of their careers, they are no longer advancing at the same pace. Djokovic has won 37 of his last 38 matches since last summer. Nadal has snatched two successes in nine games for more than four months and he is on the flank until April. But Ivanisevic refuses to bury the Spaniard: “They are both incredible competitors, incredible tennis players too, who have done so much for their sport. The clay court is coming. When Rafa enters the court at Roland-Garros, he is always the man to beat for me. They ain’t done pushing each other.”

Hopefully, but as Goran Ivanisevic himself says, “their biggest challenge now is staying healthy“. However, on this level, it is an understatement to say that Djokovic is better off than his great rival these days. And the (more or less) young people, in all this? Do they have a say? “There are a lot of very good youngsters growing, like Stefanos Tsitsipas who I’m sure will win a Grand Slam. Carlos Alcaraz is incredible and he will have a huge career“, notes the Croatian, while noting: “But for now, these two (Nadal and Djokovic) almost always have the last word.”

As for Novak Djokovic, Ivanisevic is convinced that he still has ahead of him “at least two or three years“. “The way he takes care of his body, his physique, the care he gives to all the elements of his preparation, like the nutritional side, it’s incredible. He has achieved a staggering level of excellence in all areas“, he adds. The “Djoker” has no intention of activating the brake pedal. He accelerates, again and again, and the rest of the world still has so much trouble following him.

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