iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
LIV Golf returns to the calendar in Chicago where the 48 players will be playing for $25 million in the Team and Individual events
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Djokovic is lucky he had rivals like Federer and Nadal, says coach Ivanisevic
Federer and Nadal pushed him to reach incredible heights during his career, says the former Wimbledon champion
Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. — Reuters
Novak Djokovic has been fortunate to have opponents like Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal to push him during his career, his coach Goran Ivanisevic said on Sunday after the 36-year-old claimed the US Open title for a 24th Grand Slam crown.
The 'Big Three' dominated men's tennis over the last two decades with a collective 66 Grand Slam titles between them but Djokovic is now clear of the retired Federer (20) and Nadal (22), who is expected to call time on his career next year.
"He's a winner," former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic told reporters. "He's the guy who is motivating himself.
"He had luck to have guys like Nadal and Federer, they came before him, so they pushed each other.
"When you tell him he can't do something, it's even worse. Then he's going to show you that he can do it. No excuses. He always tries to find a way to win, to fight, even when he's not feeling well, injured, not injured."
Ivanisevic, who has been coaching Djokovic since 2019, said he considered the Serb's US Open triumph — which put him level with Margaret Court with the most major singles titles — as "the biggest achievement in sporting history".
The 51-year-old added that he was not surprised by Djokovic's hunger.
"He's just enjoying, he likes the challenges. Like you ask me 25 (majors), yeah, if he wins 25 he's going to think, 'If I win 25, why not 26?' It's always one more, something more," Ivanisevic said.
"He's taking care of his body, he's taking care of everything, every single detail has to be perfect, prepared. He's never happy on the court.
"I don't know if that's good or bad, not good for us," he said smiling.
ALSO READ:
More news from Sports
Edgar Cheung's Tokyo Olympics gold turned him into a celebrity and prompted parents in Hong Kong to sign their children up for fencing classes
Al Nuaimi is preparing to represent the UAE at the Asian Games in China, provided the cut that he suffered from a head-butt by Kibazange heals
Deepak Nicholas and Pankaj Gautam beaten on the countback in the Race to Obidos Qualifier Number Two at Ajman
He will now target a third victory of the season in the season's final Grand Prix on the Tagus river in Vila Velha de Ródão
Champions go two points clear of Liverpool as In-form Tottenham scored twice in stoppage-time to beat Sheffield United
Team Abu Dhabi star shrugs off practice accident to remain in control of F2 title race
Ferrari's driver edged out George Russell's Mercedes while the Englishman was just 0.007secs ahead of Charles Leclerc's Ferrari