Things looked difficult after Novak Djokovic limped around Rod Laver Arena at the end of the first set against Carlos Alcaraz. It was a left thigh injury, and he was visibly struggling in the second set. His painkillers eventually kicked in, but what’s worth praising is how he kept his mental fortitude high. And let us not forget that finding ways to win, despite the pain, has been a recurring theme in his career. Remember the 2023 Australian Open? Despite experiencing a hamstring injury, he won the tournament. Similarly, a year earlier, a torn oblique muscle too couldn’t stop him from closing out the tournament as champion.

Never underestimate Novak Djokovic: This is a lesson Carlos Alcaraz might have learned the hard way during his quarterfinal clash with the Serb. Djokovic, while battling through adversity, secured his 12th Australian Open semifinal and his 50th Grand Slam semifinal. Despite being a set down and managing an injury, he was victorious with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the match lasting three hours and 37 minutes. What keeps Nole going? His former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, has provided a rare behind-the-scenes perspective.

To reach this stage, Djokovic defeated names like Nishesh Basavareddy, Jaime Faria, Tomas Machac, and Jiri Lehecka. Up next is second-seed Alexander Zverev, a formidable opponent. Djokovic was the winner in their last meeting at Cincinnati Open 2023 when he was still working with ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic. Ivanisevic joined Djokovic’s coaching team in 2018 and played a pivotal role in the success of the Serb. During their six-year partnership, Djokovic added nine more Grand Slam titles to his collection before they amicably parted ways in early 2024.

In an insightful episode of The Tennis Podcast, Ivanisevic opened up about his time coaching Djokovic while talking with Daniela Hantuchová. “You can learn every day from him, I was lucky, easier for me as we speak the same language, we coming from the same, I was one country before Yugoslavia. So the mentality is the same, we are neighbours, so I understood better his moves. It’s not easy to understand his moves but you know at least a little bit,” he said upon being asked about working with the best and learning from him.

Ivanisevic also elaborated on Djokovic’s perfectionism and unmatched dedication while explaining his tough mentality. “I think he’s a genius. He’s a perfectionist who wants everything to be 100% every day. What was good today is not good tomorrow. And you need to be ready, you need to always be 24-hours alert. But it’s okay and I learned that, and with him, it’s how he approached the matches, how he approached the practice, how it takes care of his body,” the Croatian added.

From 2018 to 2023, Djokovic played at a monumental level working with Ivanisevic. Under Ivanisevic guidance, his serve was transformed to a great extent. The Serb doubled his Grand Slam tally, from 12 to 24, and also climbed from world No. 4 to world No. 1 cementing himself as arguably the greatest of all time.

But in May 2024, Djokovic shocked the tennis world by parting ways with Ivanisevic. He has now hired Andy Murray as his coach in another shocking decision. What could be Djokovic’s thought process behind hiring Murray?

Is Andy Murray “The Missing Piece” of the Puzzle for Novak Djokovic’s 25th Grand Slam Glory

Andy Murray has been hailed as the missing piece in Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of history, as the Serb aims to claim his 25th Grand Slam title. This seemed clear when Djokovic expressed his gratitude towards Murray after his quarter-final win. “He’s been as committed to my career and this tournament as he can be. So it was kind of a gesture of appreciation, respect for him,” Djokovic said, referring to the heartfelt hug he shared with Murray at Rod Laver Arena. “This was a huge win for all of us, including Andy and myself, for the relationship. That’s why I went to him—because I just felt very grateful that he’s there,” he added during the post-match press conference.

Andy Murray’s addition to Djokovic’s team has been described as a game-changing decision for the Serb. Australian coach and strategist Craig O’Shannessy, who worked with Djokovic during his dominant 2017-19 run, believes Murray has been a positive influence on the former World No. 1. “The first thing I noticed about Andy Murray is how ultra-positive he is in the coach’s box,” O’Shannessy told AAP, ahead of Djokovic’s highly anticipated semifinal clash with world No. 2 Alexander Zverev.

It’s clear that Djokovic’s journey is marked by transformative partnerships- first with Ivanisevic and now with Murray. With Murray now in his corner and his eyes firmly set on the prize, Novak Djokovic might soon redefine what once seemed impossible in the history of tennis.