"97% of players would have pulled out after the MRI results Djokovic received": Ivanisevic dubs Djokovic 'from a different species'
Tennis NewsSunday, 29 January 2023 at 14:38
Goran Ivanisevic spoke to the media after Novak Djokovic's incredible 10th Australian Open triumph and said he is from 'a different species'.
A coach of Djokovic, Ivanisevic said that given the MRI results he received pre tournament, many others wouldn't have played but Djokovic did.
"I will not say 100%, but 97% of the players on Saturday when you get the results of the MRI you go straight to the referee's office and pull out. But not him. He's from a different species," said Ivanisevic as reported by Gaspar Ribiero Lanca.
"He's getting crazier and crazier, I can say it (laughs). It's a no end of the field of crazyness, in a positive way I mean. The guy is unbelievable, I don't know how to describe him. I thought I had seen everything, but then I see this... unbelievable."
He spoke about the feeling he gets from coaching Djokovic comparing him to a football powerhouse.
"It's the same as if you're the coach of Real Madrid. It's nice to be in the final, but in the end you need to win. Only Grand Slams counts. Only records counts.
As well as how long he can go on for with Roland Garros and the home court of Rafael Nadal next in his sights.
"Yes, the young guys are here and it's great for tennis, but we still have these two guys battling. This was Novak's home court and now we go into Rafa's home court in this hand ball match of 22-22."
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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
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