Novak Djokovic‘s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, has said the Serbian found last year’s Davis Cup defeat to Jannik Sinner extremely tough.
Many in the tennis world were left shocked by Ivanisevic and Djokovic ending their very successful partnership after more than five years. And the Croatian has made some very interesting comments since that news.
For example, Ivanisevic gave a brutal analysis of Djokovic’s loss to Luca Nardi, where he described why the first set of that defeat is the worst he has ever seen the 24-time Grand Slam champion play.
Other interesting remarks from Ivanisevic include him describing how Djokovic is aware of the public waiting for him to slip up, which is something that could easily provoke Djokovic into playing better.
Ivanisevic has now given a new insight in an interview he did with Sport Klub. He mentioned how Djokovic is even more motivated than normal when he represents his country during a match.
“When he plays for his country – it’s such pride, it’s such giving. He gives not 100 percent, but 5,700 percent.”
The 2001 Wimbledon champion then explained that since playing for his country means so much to him, Serbia’s Davis Cup Finals loss last year to Italy was very tough for Djokovic to come to terms with.
Serbia were 1-0 up in the tie, but Sinner saved three match points to beat Djokovic in their singles rubber. Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego then dismantled Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic in the doubles to knock Serbia out.
“And that’s why the Davis Cup hit him so hard – your life drops, your motivation drops, you think – who’s going to do it all over again?”
In fact, Ivanisevic says that playing for Serbia is so important to Djokovic that even defeats at the less prestigious United Cup hurt the 10-time Australian Open champion.
“Likewise in Australia at the United Cup. It’s not a very important competition, but he would like to break the lines. These are the things that motivate him to the extreme.”
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