The reign of the Serbian tennis G.O.A.T., Novak Djokovic keeps on casting a long shadow on and off the court. The recent US Open triumph denoted his 24th Grand Slam title, an accomplishment that only few could have predicted. Paul Annacone, famous for coaching legends like Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, found himself drawn into the perplexing quality of the Serb. In a recent interview, Federer’s ex-coach focused on his reverence for the 36-year-old’s remarkable career.

Annacone, like endless others, feels overwhelmed by Djokovic’s tireless quest for greatness. The Serb’s creative racket play on the tennis court surprised him. The 36-year-old tennis superstar continues to dazzle fans and analysts alike.

Ex-coach of Roger Federer praised Novak Djokovic for his enigmatic mastery

Annacone, known for his analytical approach to dealing with the game, conceded that Djokovic’s accomplishments have left him amazed. He has investigated the statistics and examined the vital minutes. In the second set of his US Open final clash against Daniil Medvedev, there were around seven critical minutes that might have changed the direction of the match. However, as though by sorcery, Djokovic summoned his self-control, expertise, and experience to explore this deceptive territory.

In his candid interview with Tennis Channel, Paul Annacone highlighted some of these pivotal moments in the summit match to make his point. He shared that these critical points could have swayed the match in an alternate direction. These were the junctures where champions displayed their psychological strength, and Djokovic did as such with pizazz. Federer’s ex-coach shared,“… I always try to put on my student hat and learn. And you see the result and you see what happened, but I always try to figure out why…” (Google Translated)

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Annacone also explained, “When you look at the numbers of what Novak has done throughout his career, they continue to amaze me.” The defining moment was magnificently channeled into a triumph, with Djokovic winning the match 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. Annacone, similar to every single sharp eyewitness, was left contemplating the “whys” behind Djokovic’s ability to invoke the shots of splendor.

Annacone once praised the terrific Djokovic and his tennis dominance

In 2021, Annacone bestowed a significant compliment upon the Serbian tennis ace. At a podcast, Annacone had hailed him as the “most dominant player in the last decade.” He had acknowledged that while Djokovic might not enjoy the same level of popularity as his former pupil or other players, he has undeniably been an indomitable force in men’s tennis since 2011.

Annacone had reflected on Djokovic’s journey and highlighted the considerable challenges the Serb faced to assert his presence in a tennis landscape teeming with talent. The World No.1, often in direct competition with the peak forms of the rest of the Big Four, had to engage in fierce battles to carve out his niche in the sport. Remarkably, he has not only held his own but has achieved unprecedented dominance over the past decade.

Annacone had expressed a sense of regret that Djokovic hasn’t received the level of appreciation he rightfully deserves, given the immense magnitude of his achievements.

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