Novak Djokovic coach demands more respect after Wimbledon icon booed – EXCLUSIVE

Novak Djokovic on the importance of routines.

Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic has claimed Novak Djokovic does not always get the respect he deserves from tennis fans and the Serbian’s coach has backed him to prove he is the greatest male player of all time. Djokovic is bidding to win at SW19 for an eighth time at this year’s tournament, a feat that would take him past Roger Federer on the legendary grass court, and Ivanisevic feels that going on to win the Golden Slam would leave people in no doubt about his status.

The 36-year-old sealed his passage into the third round with a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 7-5 win against Australia’s Jordan Thompson, having also eased past Pedro Cachin of Argentina in the first round in straight sets.

He now faces another ATP Tour veteran in Stan Wawrinka, one of the few players outside of the ‘Big Three’ to win a Grand Slam in this golden era, on Friday on Centre Court. But Djokovic is the sure-fire favourite to breeze past his Swiss opponent and march on towards the second week at Wimbledon.

Djokovic has not always been the most popular figure with the crowd, especially when going up against fellow icons Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. But after moving past both his friendly rivals in the all-time Grand Slam winners’ standings with 23 Majors, he is garnering more respect with every tournament.

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His coach Ivanisevic, who began working with Djokovic in 2019, still thinks there is an absence of respect when it comes to celebrating Djokovic – and believes his achievements will only be appropriately recognised when he steps away from the game.

When asked if he feels Djokovic is given enough respect, Ivanisevic – speaking as an ambassador for the Sergio Tacchini store at Selfridges – said to Express Sport: “Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. People they feel like they can relate with Rafa and Roger because they came [into tennis] first.

“But he does get great support. He is one of the best athletes, and I’m not just talking about tennis, but one of the best athletes in the world. He’s still going and what he did for tennis and for sport is amazing. I think people appreciate it, but I think they will appreciate more when he stops playing tennis.

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“For me Novak is the greatest for me in everything, by results. Roger maybe played the most attractive tennis. But they all helped each other to become better players. First Roger, then Rafa and Novak came, the rivalry between these three guys was amazing. They made tennis a better sport and they all love tennis. But you have to choose somebody, some people prefer Roger or Nadal… for me, it’s Novak.”

Ivanisevic knows what it takes to win Wimbledon, having pulled off a shock success in 2001 after entering the tournament as a wildcard. And the 51-year-old credits it as the moment that changed his life forever.

“It’s always great memories when I come here,” Ivanisevic said. “The people still remember that final when I come to Wimbledon and it’s a big tournament, lots of big names here. It saved my life actually.”

The question has been raised about how many more Slams Djokovic can win before he calls ‘game, set, match’ on his career. But at 36, he is in the best shape of his life and Ivanisevic doesn’t see any reason why he can’t keep going until he is 40, collecting more titles along the way.

“The way he has taken care of his body, he can do it,” the Croatian added. “I don’t know if he is going to have the motivation [to carry on until 40], it’s one way to go. He can play another two or three years at a high level.

“Maybe he wins 26 or 27 [Grand Slams]. Who knows? He can win another two this year and that would be unbelievable to do the Golden Slam. I don’t have a magic ball, but he’s healthy, he’s ready, he’s playing incredible tennis and he’s motivated for every Grand Slam.

“He has already achieved unbelievable things, but I still think he has a few Grand Slams in him left.”

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