Novak’s coach unloads on ‘Chainsaw Massacre’

Novak Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic has suggested the world No. 1 is unfairly treated due to racial discrimination.

The Serbian tennis icon came under fire last year following his controversial Adria Tour, which took place in the middle of the coronavirus lockdown with no social distancing protocols in place.

Watch over 40 live ATP Tour tournaments, 40 live WTA Tour tournaments, and every ATP + WTA Finals match live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Djokovic inevitably faced a wave of backlash when he tested positive to COVID-19 a few weeks later.

The 33-year-old failed to improve his public image at the US Open last year, where he was defaulted after inadvertently hitting a line judge with a ball.

The Australian public then turned on Djokovic after he reportedly sent Tennis Australia a “list of demands” regarding living conditions for athletes in hotel quarantine.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.Source:Getty Images

Djokovic secured his 18th grand slam singles title a few weeks later, but many tennis pundits questioned the legitimacy of a stomach injury that hampered his tournament.

Speaking to Tennis Majors, Ivanisevic bizarrely claimed Djokovic has been on the receiving end of all this scrutiny “because of his background” and outspoken persona.

“Everything started with the Adria Tour — they were after him even before that, but in the last year, it seemed to me as if I am watching that film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” Ivanisevic said.

“Why is he being treated that way? Probably because of his background, people from Balkans are always looked at differently — also, Novak is not afraid to speak his mind and to fight for causes he believes in.

“What happened at the US Open, it was as if everyone was glad because that kind of s**t happened to him. In Australia he stood up for his fellow players and again – let’s kick Djokovic because he is the only one to speak up, everyone else stays silent. Throughout my career I have witnessed players doing all sorts of things, but nobody got the kind of treatment Novak does.

Goran Ivanisevic, the coach of Novak Djokovic of Serbia.Source:AAP

“Then, the cherry on top … How shall I put this? The most perfidious, actually the saddest thing were accusations that he was faking an injury. Why on earth would he do that? Why would the best player in the world make up an injury, and he was up two sets to love at that point? When some other top player is injured, it is considered a heroic act for them to even step on the court. But when it is Novak, he is faking it.

“Novak is just stronger than everybody else and people have a hard time admitting that.”

Ivanisevic won his only grand slam singles title at Wimbledon in 2001.

Source: Read Full Article