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Novak Djokovic has hinted that he may not hire a permanent coach to replace the departed Goran Ivanisevic, but he is calling on the support of an old friend as he prepares for next week’s Monte-Carlo Masters.
Former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic became the Serbian’s main coach in March 2022, having previously worked alongside Djokovic’s long-time mentor Marian Vajda for several years.
It proved to be a highly successful partnership, but Djokovic revealed they are no longer working together in a warm Instagram message.
“I remember clearly the moment I invited Goran to be part of my team. It was back in 2018, and Marian and I were looking to innovate and bring some serve magic to our duo,” said Djokovic.
“In fact, not only did we bring serve, but also lots of laughter, fun, year-end no1 rankings, record-breaking achievements and 12 more Grand Slams (and a few finals) to the count since then. Did I mention a bit of drama too?
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“Goran and I decided to stop working together a few days ago. Our on-court chemistry had its ups and downs, but our friendship was always rock solid.
“In fact, I am proud to say (not sure he is) that apart from winning tournaments together, we also had a side battle in (the board game) Parchisi going on… for many years. And – that tournament never stops for us. Thanks for everything my friend. Love you.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion also suggested he might not look to hire a full-time replacement for Ivanisevic, which sparked some suggestions that he may not be playing professional tennis for much longer.
Djokovic has always had a close-knit team and he is reluctant to welcome new faces into his world, so it was not a surprise to see his old friend Nenad Zimonjic working with him during his practice sessions in Monte-Carlo.
Zimonjic was a doubles specialist during his career and reached the world No 1 ranking in that version of the sport, playing alongside Djokovic in the Serbian Davis Cup team.
He was a three-time Grand Slam champion, winning the Wimbledon doubles title in 2008 and 2009 and backing that up with a win at the French Open in 2010. He also won the end-of-season ATP Finals doubles title on two occasions.
