Novak Djokovic is one of the most popular athletes in the world at present. The Serbian has broken almost every major record under the sun and aims for more. He had his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, by his side, and the two broke the glass ceiling at every turn. So when Goran did not get his due recognition, Djokovic did not hold back his anger.
The ATP Coach of the Year was announced recently. Goran lost out to Jannik Sinner’s coaches, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi. Sinner really soared under their tutelage this year, and he also won the ATP Fan Favorite Player of the Year.
While this is a joyous occasion for Sinner and his team, the news greatly annoyed Novak. The Serb took to social media to congratulate Darren and Simone. However, he also mockingly added that winning three Grand Slams out of four and breaking records were not enough for Goran to win the award.
😯 Djokovic on IG, on the ATP ‘Coach of the Year’ Award:
“Goran, I guess we need to win 4/4 slams in order for you to maybe (just maybe) be considered coach of the year.
Winning Year-End #1, 3GS, WTF and making history of this sport is not enough, my dear coach”
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) December 14, 2023
“Goran, I guess we need to win 4/4 slams in order for you to maybe (just maybe) be considered coach of the year. Winning Year-End #1, 3GS, WTF and making history of this sport is not enough, my dear coach” he wrote in his Instagram story.
Novak Djokovic and Goran Ivanisevic have forged a special working relationship. They understand each other well, even if they have disagreements. Goran came on board Novak’s team as a coach in 2019, and the Serb has broken a lot of records since. It is not surprising, therefore, that Novak felt disappointed by Goran getting snubbed.
How did Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner fare this year?
The Serbian had one of the best seasons this year, as he won three of the four major slams. Djokovic equaled Rafael Nadal’s tally of 22 Grand Slams when he won the Australian Open. He followed it up by winning the silverware at the French Open, where he edged past Nadal.
Novak continued in that vein at Wimbledon too, and he was the favorite to lift the title again at SW19. However, Carlos Alcaraz proved to be too good for Novak, as the Serb lost to the Spaniard in the historic final.
Djokovic returned to the US for the first time in two years. He avenged his Wimbledon loss by defeating Alcaraz in the final of the Cincinnati Open. Djokovic kept up his winning momentum at the US Open as well, where he equaled Magaret Court’s record. Novak also dethroned Alcaraz to become the world number one player.
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Djokovic added another feather to his cap when he won the Nitto ATP Finals for the seventh time in his career. Moreover, he hit a big milestone, as he crossed 400 weeks as the top-ranked player.
Jannik Sinner also had a sensational year, and he really peaked in the last quarter of the year. Sinner won his first Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open this year.
Jannik made deep runs at various tournaments, including the semifinal at Wimbledon, where Djokovic defeated him. The Italian showed marked improvement during the Asian swing, as he won the China Open.
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Sinner’s crowning glory came during the Davis Cup. He defeated Djokovic twice in the semifinals and singlehandedly took Italy to the finals. Jannik then led his team to victory, Italy’s first in 47 years.
Both Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have had eventful years. Both players are gearing up for the new season as it looms on the horizon. Djokovic will be seen at the Riyadh Tennis Cup next.