World number one Novak Djokovic has ended his collaboration with his Croatian coach Goran Ivanisevic. The Serb announced this on Wednesday. The 52-year-old Ivanisevic, who won the title at Wimbledon in 2001 and was in the final of the grass classic in 1992, 1994 and 1998, joined Djokovic’s team in 2019 and has since been part of the 36-year-old’s nine major titles.
APA/AFP/Patrick Hamilton
“Goran and I decided a few days ago to end our collaboration,” said 24-time major winner Djokovic. “The on-court chemistry between us had its ups and downs, but our friendship was always rock solid.”
“We’re here to make him feel better.”
Ivanisevic had always talked humorously about the collaboration. Last summer, after his protégé’s Paris title, he said with a wink: “He’s not an easy boy, especially when something doesn’t go his way. But we are there to be beaten. We are here to make him feel better, perform better. Sometimes it’s not easy, sometimes it’s very complicated.”
Djokovic’s attempt at the 25th major title was stopped in the semifinals at the Australian Open in January by eventual tournament winner Jannik Sinner (ITA). He wants to take the next one at the French Open, which he has won three times so far.
