The former coach of Djokovic speaks to Clay Magazine about Djokovic's present and future.
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 6, 2025
Goran Ivanisevic coached Novak Djokovic to half of his major titles, and he knows the Grand Slam king better than most.
The Croatian legend, speaking to Sasa Ozmo on behalf of Clay, says that Djokovic has a shot to win a 25th major at Wimbledon this year, and adds that the Serbian juggernaut still has the game to continue challenging for more Slam hardware after that.
“Here, I see his chance,” Ivanisevic said. “Looking at the draw, I don’t think anyone can beat Djokovic before the semis, and he’s never lost to Sinner here. OK, Australian Open and Roland Garros, but here Novak’s beaten him twice.
“In my view, Novak’s the favorite [against Sinner], no matter how sentimental that sounds. Alcaraz has beaten him twice, but last year Novak came [to Wimbledon] after knee surgery, and in 2023 we all remember how close it was. Everyone says this is his last chance [to win a major] — I don’t agree. Plus, he’s the best grass-court player, experienced, he knows exactly what it takes here. It’ll be fascinating.”
"They're young, they’ll play another 10 years. And they have no competition. The Big Three had each other, plus Murray, Wawrinka, Del Potro… Who’s the competition for Sinner and Alcaraz?"@ozmo_sasa interviews Goran Ivanisevic. đđŒhttps://t.co/Dxubw4W4W1
— Clay (@_claymagazine) July 5, 2025
Djokovic has certainly been the best grass-court player in the sport over the last decade. He’s amassed seven titles at Wimbledon and is bidding to tie Federer on the all-time Wimbledon men’s singles titles list with eight this week. Ivanisevic says that the 38-year-old has plenty left in the tank, provided he remains inspired.
“He can play until LA,” Ivanisevic said. Motivation is another matter — showing up, training — he’s 38. But [at Wimbledon], he looks ready, playing well, I get the sense he sees his opportunity. He just has to manage the nerves.
"Sometimes that… I won’t say it “eats him up,” but it affects his execution. And it’s not his last chance. He has a shot at the US Open too. In Melbourne this year, if he hadn’t gotten injured, no way Zverev beats him, and the final with Sinner would have been interesting.”
And Ivanisevic believes that at at the moment, Djokovic only has two players to worry about – Alcaraz and Sinner. None of the other players on tour hold a candle to the group at the top, he says.
“No one is really right behind those three, they have the Tour to themselves,” he said. “The two of them, 15 years younger than Novak, and Novak is the only one who can still challenge and beat them. Then you have the rest.”
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