Novak Djokovic’s dominance on the tennis courts has become second nature for tennis fans. For years, the Serbian Maestro has ruled the courts, breaking records and solidifying his place as one of the greatest of all time. But what makes Djokovic truly fascinating is not just his on-court brilliance—it’s the behind-the-scenes dedication that often goes unnoticed. Recently, one of Djokovic’s former teammates, Marco Panichi, spilled some interesting details about what it’s really like to train with the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Panichi joined hands with the Italian tennis dynamo and the current World No. 1 player Jannik Sinner. This came in the backdrop of the doping controversy that surrounded the Italian star after which he parted ways with Giacomo Naldi and Umberto Ferrara. Panichi, meanwhile, engaged in an interview with Tennis Italiano and deliberated on a lot of factors related to tennis and his past partnership with the Serb.

When quizzed about what it is like to train some top athletes like Djokovic, Panichi said that it is “like taking a college exam every day.” However, he claimed that these factors make it exciting for him to stay relevant and train with fresh motivation every day. Speaking about Nole, he further made sensational revelations. 

“Nole is very demanding, with himself and with others.” He recalled his first meeting with the 37-year-old and highlighted what makes him different from other players. “The first time we met he asked me a trick question: ‘Do you think I should change something or do you think I’m fine the way I am?’” Well, Djokovic prefers to keep his game fresh and evolving. According to Panichi, he believes that constantly adapting is essential to stay ahead of younger opponents.

Ahead of the exhibition match against Grigor Dimitrov in Bulgaria, Djokovic talked about the challenges that he faces on the tennis courts owing to his age and the advent of new and young players. However, he claimed that he attempts to stay resilient. “There are a lot of hungry wolves, young players challenging the veterans, but we are still strong.” Remember, Panichi and Djokovic have shared a close bond over a long period.

The Italian coach partnered with Djokovic in 2017 and the duo continued their partnership till April this year. The bond was also reflected upon by Djokovic himself when he announced the split on Instagram. “Grande Marco, what amazing years of collaboration we’ve had. We reached the summit, won titles, broken records. But most of all, I have enjoyed our most “ordinary” days of training in and out of the gym…,” Nole wrote. It is probably due to this close bond that Panichi has witnessed some of the best times of his coaching career. 

Marco Panichi reveals his favorite moment with Novak Djokovic

The long-term partnership between Novak Djokovic and Panichi has helped them accumulate some great memories together. However, there is one memory that stands out for the Italian coach and it was at the 2023 Cincinnati Masters, where Djokovic defeated Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6, 7-6.

When quizzed about his favorite moment with Djokovic, Panichi said, “The 2023 Cincinnati final.” in the same interview. Continuing further, he justified his stance. “Not so much having won it, but having played it so well, against a very strong kid like Alcaraz, in devilish conditions. What a thrill to see them in the locker room afterwards, destroyed, soaked in sweat, but still able to hug each other.”

For now, it would be interesting to see how the ex-coach of Novak Djokovic turns out to be for Jannik Sinner, Can he help the Italian player maintain his position as the World No.1? Well, only time will tell.