"The change of generation has been going on for six or seven years": Ivanisevic calls stories surrounding Alcaraz changing of the guard 'stupid'
Tennis NewsTuesday, 01 August 2023 at 19:30
Goran
Ivanisevic reacted to his pupil Novak Djokovic's defeat against Carlos Alcaraz.
The former
Croatian tennis player responded to the wave of comments talking about a new
generation after the Big 3. Goran Ivanisevic stated that his protégé Novak
Djokovic has the level to maintain his crown.
“Those
stories are already a bit ‘stupid’,” Ivanisevic told Sportske Novosti.
“The change
of generation has been going on for six or seven years. If we look at [Daniil]
Medvedev, [Andrey] Rublev, [Karen] Khachanov, [Denis] Shapovalov, Felix
[Auger-Aliassime], [Jannik] Sinner, Alcaraz, [Holger] Rune… Alcaraz has been
here for two years, but, let’s say, Medvedev has been here for five or six
years, he is 27 years old. They are not from yesterday.
“Alcaraz is
a story by himself, and Sinner is the only one who can threaten him at the US
Open, along with Novak. The game that Sinner has doesn’t match Alcaraz and they
have had very interesting matches so far.
Also, if
Medvedev plays well on the day, he is also a phenomenal player for me. Novak
remains the only ‘dinosaur’ among those older ones, the rest are all young
guys. It’s a normal sequence, but there’s still something to ask the elders.”
Ivanisevic
also addressed the comments criticizing world No. 2 'Nole' for arguing with his
team during tournaments:
“No, that's
nonsense,” he said.
“First of
all, I can't hear half of what he says. These are huge courts, the crowd is
shouting and you can't hear. It doesn't bother me, it's emotions, he has to get
it out somehow.”
“It's
constantly reported 'He shouted again, this again, that again...' We've talked
a million times and I don't have a problem with it at all. I was also a tennis
player once, sometimes it's difficult to say a technical thing in two seconds.
What's important is that he plays as well as he possibly can.”
As of now,
Alcaraz remains the world No. 1 after winning the Wimbledon title, although
Djokovic is still in close pursuit. While the 23-time Grand Slam champion will
not be playing in the Canadian Open, the Spaniard is just a few weeks away from
defending his US Open title, a tournament where Djokovic does not have to defend
points as he did not participate in the 2022 edition.
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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