John McEnroe pours scorn on Novak Djokovic’s ‘laughable’ coaching dilemma
Novak Djokovic’s failure to appoint a permanent coach to replace the departed Goran Ivanisevic has been a big talking point in recent weeks, yet tennis legend John McEnroe has bluntly insisted the world No 1 doesn’t need a new voice in his corner.
Djokovic turned in one of his best performances of 2024 as he beat Roberto Carballes Baena to charge into the third round at Roland Garros, as he produced a performance that suggests he is starting to find some motivation and form after a troubled start to the year.
Long-time friend and associate Boris Bosnjakovic has been added to his coaching set-up for the French Open after he worked with Nenad Zimonjic in recent tournaments, yet McEnroe insists the 24-time Grand Slam champion does not need a full-time coach at this late stage of his career.
“As far as him needing a coach, I think that’s laughable,” McEnroe told Eurosport. “As far as him needing someone to tell him what he’s doing on the court, I don’t buy that.
“If he wants someone around, that’s perfectly fine. It’s worked amazingly well as no one in their wildest dreams thought he’d win 24 (Grand Slams).
“I remember seeing him playing against Gael Monfils when they were both young and he won that match in five. I thought to myself ‘that kid Djokovic has got some guts’, but if you told me then he would win 24 Grand Slam, I’d have said you were mad.
“Now he is trying to win more and these first two rounds were a really good draw for him. Two guys that didn’t have a prayer to beat him. Let’s see how it goes when it gets tougher.
“Djokovic looks good. There are a few times when he was breathing hard and a few times it looked like he was going to fall over, but for the large there was no issue.”
Djokovic’s decision not to employ a full-time coach has fueled rumours that he may be reaching the end of his career and doesn’t want to make big additions to his team when it may be dispanded sooner rather than later.
Yet the Serb offered up an alternative view as he reflected on the arrival of Bosnjakovic into his set-up.
READ MORE: Novak Djokovic hits out at French Open fan as he opens up on latest coach
“I have Boris Bosnjakovic with me here,” stated Djokovic. “He is someone I worked with in the first phases of my professional career.
“He was an assistant coach, he was travelling with me. Then he was the main coach in the tennis centre we had for years in Belgrade.
“Then for the last few years, he has been working on several projects that we have together, methodology and also video analytics. So he has been the one providing insights into my next opponent’s game and my own game.
“So I invited him to come in and come with us. I have known him for a long time like I have known Nenad Zimonjic as well, who was with me for the last couple of tournaments.
“I’m comfortable with these guys for the moment. I don’t want to rush my decisions.
“I have quite a bit of experience and know what needs to be done, but I also do need someone who has played tennis and knows tennis. I need eyes on the side of the court beacause I can’t see everything I’m doing.
“Of course, I have many years on the court, but you can’t see if you are doing something wrong or not. Let’s see what happens after this tournament.”
The debate over what comes next for Djokovic will not be answered until he comes up against more potent opposition in the second week of the French Open and he should face a bigger test against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti after he saw off French local hero Gael Monfils in the night match in Paris.
