Novak Djokovic could well double down on his surprise sacking of longtime mentor Goran Ivanisevic, with the troubled Serb perhaps ready to take a page from the Nick Kyrgios playbook.
The outlaw Aussie has gone through much of his patchy career without bothering to pay a coach, preferring to heed to his own inner voice on court.
But given that the Aussie has been injured and almost totally out of action since January, 2023, that strategy may or may not be part of the plan for world No. 1 Djokovic.
Djokovic, a third-round upset victim this month at the Indian Wells Masters, has apparently been pondering his life choices after failing to lift a title during the first quarter or the 2024 season.
And Ivanisevic may have become the first victim of the 36-year-old player’s midlife tennis crisis.
“I still don’t have a clear idea who a new coach would be, or whether there will be one at all,” Djokovic said in explaining his sudden personnel move to media in Belgrade.
“I’ve had coaches since I was a kid, now I am trying to feel by myself what I need, what I feel most comfortable with.”
“He then instructed sharply; “You will be informed in case someone joins the team.”
That possibility could well be 50/50 as Djokovic puzzles through his crisis on court, with his re-appearance expected at the Monte Carlo Masters starting in eight days.
Djokovic, who won a dozen of his 24 Grand Slam titles with former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic at the helm, rolled back the taps slightly on the sacking, calling the 52-year-old Croat Ivanisevic “my friend for life, mine and of my family’s.”
He added: “the end of our professional collaboration doesn’t mean that our friendship stops,” the world No 1 said.
“Our separation has been positive, as positive as a separation can be. We have come to a point where we’ve exhausted our cooperation after almost five years.
“Together, we’ve written history of our sport, we have won Slams, ended seasons as No 1 in the world, but we went through trials and tribulations as well – disqualification at the US Open, deportation from Australia.
“I will always remember that he was there for me as a person, as a human being, first and foremost, and that he brought the right set of values into our relationship. That kind of chemistry was followed by great results.
“I wish Goran all the best.”
Main photo:- Novak Djokovic losing inn Indian Wells 2024 third round – by ISF Ltd
