Nenad Zimonjic has finally opened up about his partnership with Novak Djokovic, shedding light on his role as the Serbian tennis star’s coach.
In a recent interview, the former doubles world No. 1 hinted that his collaboration with Djokovic might be coming to an end, speaking of his coaching stint in the past tense. Djokovic had enlisted Zimonjic’s help in preparing for the clay-court season, and the pair worked together at the Monte Carlo Masters last month, where Djokovic reached the semifinals, marking his best performance at the ATP Masters 1000 event since his victory in 2015.
This partnership came about after Djokovic parted ways with his long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic in March, following a surprising third-round exit at the Indian Wells Open. Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon champion, had been an integral part of Djokovic’s team since 2019, contributing to the Serbian’s remarkable success in his thirties.
However, Djokovic has yet to confirm whether Zimonjic will continue as part of his coaching team. In a recent interview with The Guardian in April, Djokovic admitted that he was considering moving forward without a coach altogether. He expressed satisfaction with his recent collaboration with Zimonjic but stated that a decision would be made in due time.
Looking ahead, Djokovic is scheduled to compete in the Italian Open next week, having opted to skip the Madrid Open.
During an appearance on the Mastorija TV show, Zimonjic revealed how his partnership with Djokovic came to fruition. He explained that Djokovic had approached him, asking for assistance during training sessions and matches, emphasizing their long-standing relationship and mutual respect.
Djokovic himself praised Zimonjic’s coaching abilities, highlighting their close bond spanning over two decades. He described Zimonjic as an older brother, mentor, and friend who had always supported him both on and off the court. Djokovic expressed gratitude for Zimonjic’s valuable advice, particularly in improving his net game, an area where he felt less proficient due to his limited experience in doubles matches.
Zimonjic’s extensive experience as a former top-ranked doubles player, with numerous Grand Slam titles to his name, adds credibility to his coaching role alongside Djokovic, as they aim to maximize their collaboration on the tennis court.
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