Serbian GOAT Novak Djokovic and his ascent to excellence have been out and out momentous. The Nole has firmly established himself as one of the sport’s all-time greats, with 24 Grand Slam titles and a stranglehold on the world No. 1 ranking. Yet, behind his remarkable accomplishments lies a charming disclosure.  It is about the role his close rivals, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, have played in molding his celebrated career. Djokovic’s ex-coach, Goran Ivanisevic, recently shared an interesting perspective. He talked about how the presence of Nadal and Federer in the tennis world has contributed to the Serb’s legacy.

In an exclusive interview, the former Wimbledon champion talked about the impact of this iconic trio’s intense rivalry. He admired Djokovic’s ability to self-motivate which is a defining factor in his success. However, the competition with Nadal and Federer has undeniably played a pivotal role in his relentless pursuit of excellence.

Goran Ivanisevic reveals how rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer fueled Novak Djokovic

The 36-year-old Serbian ace arrived on the global tennis scene as a latecomer to the intense rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. When Novak Djokovic secured his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2008 Australian Open, Federer had already gathered a noteworthy count of 12 major Championships. Conversely, Nadal had won three Grand Slam titles.

This disparity in their respective records was evident, but it didn’t deter the Serb. Moreover, it fueled his determination to challenge his famous rivals for the most prestigious titles in the sport and the coveted world number-one ranking.

In a recent exclusive interview, Goran Ivanisevic underlined the importance of this rivalry. The former tennis ace attested that Djokovic’s career benefited from the fierce competition. According to the Express, Ivanisevic shared, “He’s a winner. He’s the guy who is self-motivating.”

Throughout his career, the 24-time Grand Slam champion learned from Nadal and Federer, his rivals and sources of inspiration. Their rivalry pushed him to raise his game, adjust to new difficulties, and break records. Ivanisevic shared that Nole’s obligation to personal growth mirrors his “born winner” attitude.

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Djokovic’s “luck”, tenacious work ethic, unwavering mental strength, and distinct willpower have propelled him to the top of the tennis rankings. However, his journey was exponentially enhanced by the formidable conflict presented by Nadal and Federer.

Djokovic’s ex-coach once shared his praise for  the remarkable Serb

In 2021, his ex-coach discussed the challenges of coaching a player of the Serbian GOAT’s caliber. He shared that Djokovic’s insatiable hunger for improvement motivates him.

However, while Ivanisevic praises his attitude, he questions if Djokovic will ever be content. He had even described ‘Joker’ as a perfectionist and explained that his drive motivates the coaching team to improve daily.

The team had worked on addressing his potential weaknesses during his Wimbledon campaign. resulting in a successful outcome. Nevertheless, coach Ivanisevic humbly deflected much credit for the successful experiment.

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