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Goran Ivanisevic: ‘Novak Djokovic is by far the best in the world based on last 12 years’


Goran Ivanisevic said that “if you take the results from the last 12 years”, Novak Djokovic is “by far the best player in the world”.

The former world No. 2 – who has coached the Serbian since 2019 – also reflected on practising with a 13-year-old Djokovic.

“If you take the results from the last 12 years, from 2009, he won by far the most Grand Slams, he broke all the records,” the Croatian told BBC Sport.

“I think he’s the best. There’s always going to be a debate, but if you really take the results in the last 12 years, by far – not little – by far Novak is the best tennis player in the world.”

Ivanisevic added on practising with Djokovic a few months before he won Wimbledon in 2001: “We played a set, and then he gave me some chocolate because he thought I lost my energy. 

“He was special. He had something that you cannot learn, or you cannot buy – you are born with that. He was not even kind of impressed.

“He played like he was playing with his older brother. I’m always going to remember his eyes, and back then he believed that he can beat me.”


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.