Why ‘cranky’ Novak Djokovic is a ‘genius’ and ‘one of a kind’
Novak Djokovic was admittedly grumpy on the back of losing the Wimbledon final, but his desire to constantly improve was key to his success at the US Open, according to his coach Goran Ivanisevic.
Although they were in the minority, there were one or two people in the tennis community who questioned whether or not Djokovic would bounce back after he was beaten by rising star Carlos Alcaraz in the grass-court Grand Slam final back in July.
But Djokovic has done what he has done best: shut up his detractors by storming back to first win the Cincinnati Open – where he beat the same Alcaraz in another titanic final – and then the US Open to take his Slam tally to 24.
Following his latest New York success, Ivanisevic was asked about Djokovic’s mood following the Wimbledon defeat.
“He’s always cranky on the court it doesn’t matter, Wimbledon or not. We came to Cincinnati and it was mentioned one time, then it was in the past,” he said.
“When you lose it’s how you can get it back. That day, Carlos was better player and he won. Very simple. So we came to Cincinnati, prepared for this tournament. He won in Cincinnati. You know, he’s the guy that just forgets the things and moves on. That’s why he’s so good. That’s why this couple of, what, four and a half weeks in the States and he was happy that he could play here. So it was really enjoyable and fun.”
What sets Djokovic apart from his rivals is that ability to “move on” and up his game at the next tournament.
Ivanisevic has seen it time and time again as last year he bounced back from being deported from Australia by winning Wimbledon. This year he returned to Melbourne and won a 10th Australian Open title before defeat Alcaraz en route to winning the French Open.
After his Wimbledon heartbreak, he rebounded by winning the US Open.
“You are born [with that fighting spirit], he’s a genius. He is one of a kind,” 2001 Wimbledon winner Ivanisevic said. “There are not too many people in this world like him sport wise. And this is one of the biggest achievements in the sport history. We’re not talking about tennis, we’re talking generally in sport. And he’s a winner.
“He is the guy who is motivating himself. He had luck to have guys like Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer come before him, so they pushed each other. But he’s a born winner.
“And for him, when you tell him you cannot do something, it’s even worse. Then he’s going to show you that he can do it. And there are no excuses. He always try to find a way, how to win, how to fight, even when he’s not feeling well, injured or not injured.
“And it’s just something I cannot say that we are all like that from Balkans because we are not. But he is one of a kind and that’s why he’s the best.”
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