Novak Djokovic admits he may go without a coach heading into the clay-court season after splitting from Goran Ivanisevic.
The pair worked together full time from March 2022 but the Croat had also been part of Djokovic’s team for the four years previous.
Djokovic won 12 of his 24 Grand Slam singles titles while having an association with former Wimbledon winner Ivanisevic.
However, the world No 1 announced on Instagram earlier this week that they had decided to ‘stop working together a few days ago’.
Novak Djokovic doesn’t know if he will have a coach heading into the clay-court season
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Djokovic is not happy with how he has played so far in 2024, having lost in the quarter-final of the Australian Open.
He didn’t play again until Indian Wells but lost his second match against 20-year-old Italian Luca Nardi.
He opted out of the Miami Open as he prepares for the clay-court season to begin at the ATP 1000 Monte Carlo Masters on April 7.
The 36-year-old has raised doubts that he will have a coach in place and has hinted he could make a late decision.
Djokovic said: “I still don’t have a clear idea who it could be and whether there will be anyone at all.
“Simply, I’ve always had a coach from a young age. I’m trying now to feel what pleases me at the moment and what I think is necessary. You will be informed in time, of course, if someone comes.”
Djokovic has been seen training with former Serbian player Nenad Zimonjic in recent days.
He insists his relationship with Ivanisevic is still as good as ever despite the sudden split.
Djokovic added: “First of all, Goran is my friend for life, mine and of my family’s.
“He is a very dear person for me, the end of our professional collaboration doesn’t mean that our friendship stops.
“We went through everything, through deportation and disqualification and so on.
“There were many moments that were not at all pleasant for him, as my coach, nor for me, but despite everything he was always there for me.
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Novak Djokovic split from coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this week
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“That is something that I will remember the most, his human attitude towards me in our professional player-coach relationship, those human values always came before everything else.
“I think that because of that relationship and the chemistry we had, the result itself came as a positive consequence of all that. So, of course, I wish him all the best.”
Sky Sports pundit and former British star Annabel Croft reckons Djokovic’s form played a part in the decision to split with Ivanisevic.
Croft said: “I guess it was a little bit of a shock. It was a very nice message he put out, making it clear that they are still extremely good friends.
Novak Djokovic has not hit his best form so far in 2024
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“They’ve been together around six years, 12 Grand Slam titles later that they won together.
“But I would imagine that that tells you that all is not great where Djokovic feels his tennis is at right now.
“He didn’t win in Australia. He’s chosen not to play here [Miami], he’s said for personal reasons I guess there was all of this going on off the court to try and make a decision.
“It will be fascinating now to see who he’s going to pick now.”
Source Agencies
