Novak Djokovic’s Ex-Coach Goran Ivanisevic Admits Communication With the Serb Used to Be Chaotic: “I Couldn’t Understand Half of What He Was Shouting”

Novak Djokovic is currently not competing on the North American hardcourt swing. But he has confirmed his participation for the Cincinnati Masters, which starts on August 13.

The Serb has a golden opportunity to win his first Big Title since the 2024 Paris Olympics, as Jannik Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz won’t be competing due to injury issues. Djokovic last played a match in Cincinnati in the final back in 2023.

While he is gearing up for the tournament, his former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, who now works with Arthur Fils, gave an interview to 24 Sata, during which he admitted that communicating with the 24-time Grand Slam champion during matches used to be difficult.

What sets him apart from other top-level players is his mental strength. He’s a special case, a genius you can’t even try to understand, because you’d get lost. At the beginning of our collaboration, he literally told me that anyone who couldn’t understand his madness couldn’t work with him.

Djokovic shouts a lot at his team. But Ivanisevic understands that it was just his way of letting out his frustrations.

This communication with him, especially during matches, seems very chaotic, but it’s his way of letting off steam. I couldn’t understand half of what he was shouting at me from the other side of such a large pitch; I can’t hear him at all, but he’s simply letting everything out of him. It’s not easy to reach the top, and it’s even harder to stay there for so long.

Goran Ivanisevic added

Ivanisevic and Djokovic parted ways in March back in 2024. Under the Croatian coach, Djokovic won 12 of his 24 Majors.

After the split with Nole, Ivanisevic joined Elena Rybakina‘s team, but the Stefano Vukov drama saw them part ways after her 2025 Australian Open exit. Ivanisevic also had a brief stint with Stefanos Tsitsipas, which ended after his first-round Wimbledon exit last year.

He became a part of Fils’ entourage in February this year. In their very first tournament together, the Frenchman reached the final of the Qatar Open but lost the title to Alcaraz.

Fils then ended his title drought by defeating Andrey Rublev at the Barcelona Open. At present, Fils is competing at the Canadian Open, where, after eliminating Cameron Norrie, he has set up a quarterfinal clash with Rafael Jodar.

Canadian Open director on Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal

Novak Djokovic hasn’t played a match at the Canadian Open since his third-round exit in 2018. But Jannik Sinner‘s withdrawal was questioned a lot because he had a chance to bid for the Golden Masters, given that he won the first five Masters 1000s of the season.

As Carlos Alcaraz also withdrew, the tournament is underway without these three high-profile players. Tournament director Valerie Tetreault was initially furious, but now she has admitted that something needs to be done to attract these players.

There is a sense of urgency. You said it. We really see that we’re falling behind, and we’re being told the same thing by the two tours. As much as the ATP worked on implementing a lot of standards when it comes to everything that is tied to the player services, it’s pretty clear that, right now, you know, this isn’t a good place, and they’re turning more to fan experience and what is expected in terms of fan experience when you go to a Masters 1000.

Valerie Tetreault said at a press conference

Sinner and Alcaraz are expected to be back for the US Open, where last year, they played in the final. The Spaniard clinched his second title in the tournament with the four-set win over the five-time Grand Slam champion.

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