2023-06-11 21:25:35
Goran Ivanisevic and Novak Djokovic, winning ticket. LISI NIESNER / REUTERS
The Croatian technician savors the new coronation of his pupil, who never ceases to amaze him with now 23 Majors on the clock. And listening to it, it’s not over…
And in the end it’s almost always Novak Djokovic who wins. The Serb dominated Casper Ruud in the Roland-Garros final on Sunday, thus winning a 23rd Grand Slam title, a record broken. However, this was not obvious to Goran Ivanisevic, given his pupil’s poor season on clay (5 wins – 3 losses before Roland-Garros). “Coming to this tournament, he didn’t land with incredible confidence and form.says the Croatian technician. But I wasn’t worried. I told Monte-Carlo that what counted was Roland-Garros. He has this software in his head that he can change when a Grand Slam comes around.»
And to add: The Grand Slam is a different sport compared to other tournaments. It changes software. The day we arrived here, he was better, he was more motivated, he was hungrier. Every day he played better and better. I think against Alcaraz he played incredible tennis for an hour and a half. And today he finished what we started in Monte-Carlo, during training. And now it’s payday. We cashed the check (smile).”
He chained us with handcuffs for three days.
According to the former Wimbledon winner, it’s not easy to be the coach of an extraordinary champion like Djokovic: “He chained us with handcuffs for three days (smile). He’s not an easy guy, let’s put it that way. Especially when something when something goes wrong. That’s what the team is for. We are here to make him feel better, to perform better. He tortured us, pulled out our fingernails (smiles). But we are still here, we are alive. My heart is still fine. I’m an old man, gotta watch my heart (smiles).”
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And the happy Croatian coach is not satisfied. That’s good, the future world number 1 either. “I hope Rafa comes back to win one more time, and Novak is the only player who can win the calendar Grand Slam (all four in the same year). He was one game away two years ago, so he has a chance this year. But the road is still long. I think he has a lot of energy in his body. And thank goodness not too many injuries. So he’s amazing and he always moves like a cat in the field. He’s there. Like Ninja, he is everywhere. So it’s fascinating to watch, because sometimes you’re like, ok, now he’s got 23. But he’s going to find, again, some kind of motivation to win 24, maybe 25, who knows.»
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