Despite Being ‘Grateful’, Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open Opponent Reveals Why Goran Ivanisevic’s Attention on Him Was Short-Lived

Novak Djokovic is all geared up and set to open his Australian Open account as he faces Dino Prizmic in the first round. However, right before the start of the match, an interesting revelation comes into the picture. The coach of the Serbian, Goran Ivanisevic, has a special connection. However, that is not with the Serbian but with his opponent.

In a recent revelation, the Croatian, Dino Prizmic, came ahead and talked about the special connection that he holds with the Serbian’s coach. And while Ivanisevic may have been impressed by Prizmic, he’s no DJoker!

Despite country connection, Novak Djokovic’s coach not too focused on his first-round AO opponent

Goran Ivanisevic, who won Wimbledon back in 2001, is from the same place as Prizmic which is Split, Croatia. Even though Split was in Yugoslavia when Ivanisevic grew up, it became part of Croatia by the time Prizmic started playing tennis 30 years later.

Ivanisevic, now coaching Novak Djokovic, watched Prizmic play junior matches at Roland Garros last year, and Prizmic is grateful for the support. However, Ivanisevic could only catch a couple of matches because Djokovic kept him busy.

“I am grateful for him to watch my some of my matches,” Prizmic adds. “I know Goran but he was there only like watching for one or two matches because Novak kept him very busy!”

Now, as Prizmic faces Djokovic in the first round of the Australian Open, there’s an interesting connection between Djokovic’s coach and Prizmic’s tennis journey.

Also read: ‘Didn’t Pretend Like Some People’- After Rafael Nadal’s ‘Frustrated’ Jibe, Novak Djokovic Seemingly Rebuffs Rival With a Passionate Boast

Right before the start of the match, he also talked about how he felt on knowing that he was facing Novak Djokovic in the first round of the Australian Open.

Prizmic reveals feelings on facing Djokovic

In the interview, Dino Prizmic said that he first saw a message that read that he would be paying against Novak Djokovic. He suggested that at first, he was completely in shock. However, a couple of minutes later, it all felt normal for him.

“I just saw one message like I play against Novak and then I saw the draw. The first minute, [I was] like ‘No way’ and after a couple of minutes, it seems normal,” said Prizmic.

It remains to be seen how the relative rookie would go up against the veteran!

Watch this story: ‘He’s A Perfectionist’ – Days After Novak Djokovic’s Friendship Bomb On Roger Federer, Ex-Coach’s Blunt Revelation Shows Mysterious Similarities Between The Two Tennis Legends