‣ Novak Djokovic’s coach, Goran Ivanisevic, believes that the presence of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had a significant impact on Djokovic’s career.
‣ Djokovic’s late arrival to the tennis scene allowed him the opportunity to improve himself and break the hegemony of Nadal and Federer.
‣ Djokovic’s self-drive and ability to motivate himself are key factors that set him apart from other players and have contributed to his success.
Details
In a recent interview, Goran Ivanisevic, coach of Novak Djokovic, discussed the impact that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have had on his protégé’s career. Ivanisevic believes that Djokovic’s late arrival to the tennis scene actually worked in his favor. He explained that Djokovic had the opportunity to learn and improve himself thanks to the presence of his great rivals.
During the late 2000s, Djokovic faced numerous challenges trying to break the dominance of Nadal and Federer. However, he has always expressed his admiration for the two legends and acknowledged their importance in shaping his career. Federer won an impressive 16 Grand Slam titles between 2003 and 2010, while Nadal was not far behind with nine major wins between 2005 and 2010.
Before the end of 2010, Djokovic had managed to secure only one Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2008. However, he often found himself on the losing end of battles with Nadal and Federer at crucial events. Everything changed in 2011 when Djokovic achieved a whole new level of greatness. He had an outstanding season, winning three out of the four Slams and finishing the year with a remarkable 10-1 head-to-head record against his two rivals.
Ivanisevic attributes Djokovic’s success to his self-drive and ability to motivate himself. While luck played a part in the fact that Djokovic was a latecomer to the scene, his determination and relentless pursuit of victory have set him apart. According to Ivanisevic, Djokovic thrives on proving people wrong: “He’s a born winner. For him, when you tell him he cannot do something, it’s even worse. Then he’s going to show you that he can do it.”
Djokovic’s journey to becoming one of the greatest tennis players of all time was undoubtedly influenced by Nadal and Federer. Their presence pushed him to improve and excel, and he has since overshadowed them in virtually every tennis metric. Djokovic’s career is a testament to his talent, hard work, and unwavering determination to succeed.
