Goran Ivanisevic was thrilled to observe his cost, Novak Djokovic, make extra historical past Sunday on the Australian Open. The Serbian claimed a record-extending tenth title on the season’s first main.
But it additionally marked the 35-year-old’s twenty second Grand Slam trophy, tying Rafael Nadal’s report. Ivanisevic is happy to observe Djokovic and Nadal proceed battling for the report.
“I said eight or nine years ago that Novak and Rafa will go over Roger,” Ivanisevic mentioned. “People have been taking a look at me like surprisingly. But we’ve 22-22. Two unbelievable opponents, two unbelievable tennis gamers, what they did for the tennis.
“I’m looking forward. Looking forward, honestly, for both of them to be super healthy, then battle is there. And with the young guys who [are] going to try to find backdoors to sneak and try to do something. But still these two guys, they [are] going to have last word to say there.”
There are loads of younger gamers difficult the legendary duo, together with Djokovic’s opponent in Sunday’s last, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and reigning US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz. But Ivanisevic nonetheless has his eyes on the Djokovic-Nadal battle.
“We [are] talking about young guys. They’re here, it’s great for tennis, great for the future of tennis. But you still have these two guys battling. This was Novak’s home court, and now we going next one to Rafa home court in this handball match of 22-22,” Ivanisevic mentioned. “Yes, they’re coming, Alcaraz, unbelievable. Still, if Rafa steps on the court docket on the French Open, for me he is at all times the favorite to win the event.”
Longform Tribute: Djokovic Claims Record-Tying twenty second Grand Slam Title
Djokovic arrived on the Australian Open with harm issues after hurting his left hamstring in Adelaide. Those issues grew after it was clear his motion was hindered within the early rounds of the event.
But ultimately the Serbian confirmed his class at Melbourne Park, claiming the trophy with the lack of only one set throughout the fortnight.
“I think I have to agree with him like he said, definitely the best one, not only because all what happened last year and he came back, but last three weeks, they were extremely hard,” Ivanisevic mentioned. “I assumed I noticed all the pieces in 2021 when he gained right here with the belly tear. This one was unbelievable.
“To play like this every day better and better, it’s just impressive.”
Djokovic is thought for his relentless baseline recreation. His dogged defence stymies all ranges of opponents and when mandatory, he can step into the court docket and take cost, whereas his serve is an underrated weapon. But one shot particularly has stood out to Ivanisevic in 2023.
“I’ve been impressed by his forehand all this year. Actually we work a lot. Let’s say in Torino he start to hit the forehands, but we work a lot in the pre-season. Adelaide was not bad,” Ivanisevic mentioned. “But here kind of when he got injured, he needed to be more aggressive. He stepped up and he was smacking forehands unbelievable. Really probably the best two weeks of forehands that I ever saw [from] him in his life. I mean, I never saw him hitting better forehands before. He was really going for it.”
Ivanisevic added that Djokovic is “unbelievable” and that the 93-time tour-level titlist continues to impress the Croatian in new methods.
“The guy is unbelievable. I don’t know how to describe in the words. I thought I saw everything, and then you see this. Probably I’m going to see something else,” Ivanisevic mentioned. “Unbelievable. I know he’s emotional on the court. Doesn’t matter. We talk, he talks. But, like I said before, how he won the tournament, how he played also today in the moments was good tennis, in the moments was bad tennis, but doesn’t matter, overall he won 10 Australian Opens.”
Source web site: www.atptour.com
