Goran Ivanisevic, former Wimbledon champion and Novak Djokovic’s ex-coach, has shed light on their recent split, citing “material fatigue” and the intense nature of their five-year collaboration.

The news of their separation came in March 2024, leaving many surprised as Djokovic himself acknowledged their amicable working relationship and strong personal bond. However, Ivanisevic now reveals the toll their partnership took, both professionally and emotionally.

“There isn’t a single, big reason,” Ivanisevic explains in an interview with Sport Klub (translated by Tennis Majors). “It’s more a feeling of saturation, of fatigue. Five years is a long time, and it’s been intense.”

He goes on to detail the significant challenges they faced, including Djokovic’s deportation from the 2022 Australian Open and the North American ban due to his vaccination stance.

“People forget how tough that period was during COVID,” he says. “They forget how he was labeled a villain because of the vaccine. We were constantly in limbo, never knowing what was next.”

Ivanisevic suggests that the constant uncertainty and pressure contributed to a sense of exhaustion.

“We reached a point of saturation,” he admits. “I got tired of him, and he got tired of me. I just didn’t feel like I could help him anymore.”

Further elaborating on the breakdown, Ivanisevic pinpoints a shift in their dynamic following Djokovic’s shocking loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 Wimbledon final.

“Honestly, the feeling started creeping in during the North American swing last year,” he confesses. “Not necessarily Wimbledon itself, but that loss obviously hit him hard, and as a coach, it hit me too.”

He acknowledges Alcaraz’s superior performance but hints at the potential for a different outcome. “Congratulations to Alcaraz,” he says. “He deserved it. But a few key points here and there, it could have been different.”

Djokovic did rebound strongly after Wimbledon, clinching victories at the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open. However, Ivanisevic felt the coach-player connection had already weakened.

“Those were incredible wins, especially the US Open,” he says. “But even then, I knew the end was near.”

This honest and candid interview sheds light on the complexities of long-term coaching partnerships in professional sports. While success stories often grab the headlines, the intense demands and external pressures can take their toll. Ivanisevic’s perspective offers valuable insights into the unseen struggles that can lead to a seemingly abrupt separation between a coach and a player.