"I found him in a situation where he was not really motivated": Zimonjic reveals Novak Djokovic’s motivation Struggles in 2024
ATP
Novak Djokovic’s mentor and friend, Nenad Zimonjic, spoke about the Serbian's lack of motivation at the start of the 2024 season and how he managed to overcome it during the second half of the year.
The Serbian began the year as the main favourite to defend his Australian Open title but fell in the semifinals to Jannik Sinner. In his next tournament, he suffered a shocking third-round defeat at Indian Wells to Luca Nardi, raising doubts about Nole's form. A week later, he decided to skip the Miami Open and announced his split from Goran Ivanisevic.
Zimonjic’s guidance key to Djokovic’s Olympic success
The 24-time Grand Slam champion reunited with Zimonjic during the clay swing, a coach he has known since childhood.“I’ve been his mentor on the court and off the court, basically, since I met him when he was 12,” Zimonjic told Ubitennis. “Whenever he was in trouble, which was at Wimbledon 2022, he asked me to come and help the team. I managed to do that and help them to win Wimbledon together with my good friend Goran Ivanisevic.”
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“Earlier this year, I found him in a situation where he was not really motivated and was a little bit lost with his game, having no good results compared to 2023 and struggling after Australia this year.”
During the clay swing, working with Zimonjic, Djokovic reached the semifinals in the Monte Carlo Masters. However, at the Rome Open, he suffered another early exit in the third round to Alejandro Tabilo. Later, at the French Open, Nole reached the quarterfinals but was forced to withdraw due to an injury before facing Casper Ruud.
“I managed to fix it quite quickly and unexpectedly. Novak didn’t have any expectations before Monte Carlo, but the two weeks that we worked together before the tournament helped him reach the semi-finals,” the Serbian coach added. “Those new things we worked on during this period also helped him win gold at the Paris Olympics, which was his biggest goal.”
No place like Rome. #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/taKsd8xSOZ
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) May 8, 2024
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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