Tennis is on the cusp of a brand-new era. With Roger Federer already hung up his racquets and Rafael Nadal planning to make his final bow at the Davis Cup this year, the famed “Big 3” is undergoing a profound transformation. Yet, standing tall in this shifting landscape is none other than Novak Djokovic, who continues to defy the passage of time and set new records on the courts. And it’s not just fans marveling at Djokovic’s dominance; his former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, has weighed in with high praise, making an emphatic statement on Djokovic’s legacy. 

Ivanisevic, who parted ways with Nole in March this year after a 5-year-long partnership, engaged in an interview with Tennis Majors. He deliberated on a wide range of topics including his latest partnership with Elena Rybakina and his expectation from Novak Djokovic. He highlighted that the Serb has proved himself on the courts and can still baffle his opponents, thereby sending a warning to the ATP circuit.

Speaking in the interview, Ivanisevic said, “I can’t know if he is motivated and how much, but the moment he decides to play, it means that he is eager to play. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are convincingly above the rest of the field, but I put Novak in the group with them, because when Novak really wants to play, he is still the best in the world, in my opinion.” Indeed! Despite playing comparatively fewer tournaments this year, Nole has managed to remain in the top 5 in the ranking table alongside Alcaraz and Sinner. Besides, he has demonstrated some great tennis like qualifying till the finals of Wimbledon and Shanghai Masters and winning the Olympic Gold this year. Continuing further, Nole’s former coach stressed that the star player still has the potential to amass more slams under his belt. 

“If he goes out on the court like that, then he can still win a Slam,” Ivanisevic said. While he highlighted that there are several factors that impact this prediction like Nole’s ranking and the draw he gets, he can still outshine his opponents. “You can never write him off, I would never do that,” he added. This comes at a time when the rumors and speculations about Nole’s retirement are taking center stage. 

Soon after Nole clinched the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Chris Evert claimed that if Nole clinches his 25th Grand Slam in New York, he might sign off from the sport. But the tennis great seems to have no such plans as yet and has continued to speak against such rumors. Ivanisevic, meanwhile, is not the only person to have resonated with such sentiments for Djokovic. 

In a recent interview with the Tennis Channel’s Inside In Podcast, former pro Patrick McEnroe discussed Nole’s future in the sport. While he claimed that the player might decide to walk away from the courts soon, he did not rule out his capabilities. “There is no doubt he can win in the Australian (Open), as he won in the Olympics on clay which was amazing. Yes, he can win one or two more. Novak knows in a big spot he can still be there and as long as he thinks he’s got a shot, I believe he will play,” he said earlier. Interestingly, Djokovic himself has opened up about his potential and revealed the factors that drive him to perform better and believe in his abilities.

What is Novak Djokovic’s biggest motivational factor in Grand Slams?

Novak Djokovic has already clinched 24 titles in his career and is still hungry for more. The star player has continued to demonstrate what a true athlete looks like with his never-ending determination for the sport. And as concerns about his performances and retirement have continued to simmer, Djokovic himself revealed his belief in his potential.

In an interaction with the Argentinian publication La Nacion in October this year, Djokovic said, “Deep inside I feel that I still have more Grand Slams to win.” He opened up about his motivation and said,  “What still pushes me to compete, especially in the Grand Slams, is the feeling that I can be a candidate to win it. And also for my country. I love playing the Davis Cup for Serbia.” He also revealed that he is motivated to continue playing more and avoid the rumors of his retirement.

Although Nole did not win a Grand Slam title this year, he is motivated enough. It would be interesting to see if he can clinch one in the next season at the Australian Open.