Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic is undoubtedly one of the greatest players ever. Not only famous for his skills with the racket and the ball, but his discipline and athleticism are also exemplary. Even before turning pro in 2003, the Serb had made a name for himself through performances in the juniors.
His track record in juniors prompted the UK government to offer him citizenship to play under their flag. The self-respecting and a true Serbian patriot, Djokovic refused the offer and managed what little the Serbian federation could offer. That however did not become a massive hurdle as Djokovic went on to win 22 Majors mid-way to the 2023 season.
With history on line in the 2023 season, Djokovic has a lot at stake. Rafael Nadal‘s injury saw him ruled out of the entire season. This opened up the path in most Majors race for Djokovic. Both he and the Spaniard are tied on 22 Majors each. Nadal achieved the feat by winning the 2022 French Open and Djokovic followed it up with the title at the 2023 Australian Open. But all of this has been possible due to a strong trusted coaching team.
In case you missed it: Who is Coco Gauff’s boyfriend?
Novak Djokovic’s coaching team
Behind every great player is a trusted coach, the same goes for Djokovic. His first long-term coach was Marian Vajda. He was his head coach for 15 years split over two stints. From 2006 to 2017, Vajda was the Serb’s coach. He took a year-long break and returned in 2018 staying again till March 2022. Both split due to differences in opinion over the player’s schedule but it did not hamper their personal relationship.
Djokovic is currently coached by Croatian great Goran Ivanisevic. The Croat famously won the 2001 Wimbledon as a wildcard, only player to do so at the Championships. Ivanisevic has been part of the setup since 2019 and continues to guide Nole. The two often have visible altercations during matches but it’s all left on the field as both share the common goal of making Djokovic the GOAT.
Djokovic was also briefly coached by Boris Becker. The German great was with him for three seasons guiding him to his maiden French Open title in 2016. Owing to their time together, Djokovic and Becker share a great bond as well. When the German was imprisoned for tax fraud in the UK, Djokovic personally reached out to offer all possible help for him and his family as they survived a tough period.
Continue Reading:
ncG1vNJzZmiemafAtb%2FPqKmtsl6YvK57056lp6GjYruwwsCkZJ2in6C8t7XCZpqomZOdfA%3D%3D