Djokovic, the new coach remains a puzzle: “Not having him is also a possibility”

Martina Sessa

April 23 – 9.29pm – MILAN

Whoever does it himself does it for three. This is the message that Novak Djokovic sends in the press conference after winning the award for best sportsman of the year at the 2024 Laureus Awards. The Serbian recently separated from his historic coach, Ivanisevic, and has not yet chosen a successor to him. He explained the reason to journalists in Madrid. “I’m not in a hurry to make a decision. After having had different teams and coaches, I’m at a stage where I allow myself to consider the option of not having a coach,” admitted the 24-time Grand Slam champion. There is, however, a potential successor to Goran: Nenad Zimonjić, present in Nole’s garage in Monte-Carlo. “I have had a lot of fun with Nenad as my coach in the last three weeks, so we are considering continuing. Let’s see, I will make the decision in the next period,” continued the current world number one.

THE OBJECTIVES

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In a 2024 of new things, there is also room for surprises. Like a season that started without tournaments. An event that has already happened in other years, but which constitutes more of an exception than a rule. Now it’s time to set new goals and focus on what is “the most important block of tournaments”. “I intend to play the Masters 1000 in Rome. – continues Djokovic in the press conference – I am preparing my body above all for Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Olympic Games and the US Open. Olympics? They are the oldest and most prestigious sporting event and I hope I’m there fit and able to play my best tennis, because who knows if I’ll have another chance to be there in four years.”

THE LAST MATCH?

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Nole gave up playing the Masters 1000 in Madrid and only went to Spain to collect the Laureus Award; while historic rival Nadal arrived in the capital to play the tournament and become competitive again. Now that the two find themselves in two different moments of their careers, the Serbian has only one wish: “I have a lot of respect for a legend like him. I hope to be able to play against him at least one more time before he retires. Everything that he does is incredible. he managed to do as an athlete. He is a legend of our sport, he is my most important rival.”