Coach Goran Ivanisevic has confirmed that Novak Djokovic was not injured or dealing with any issues during his loss to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. However, it was a day where the Serbian player was far from his best performance.
At this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic’s run ended earlier than expected as Sinner handed him a decisive 6-1 6-2 6-7 (6) 6-3 loss. It was not only a defeat for Djokovic, but he was also dominated by the Italian player. This match also marked the first time that the world No. 1 failed to create a single break chance throughout a Grand Slam match. It was Djokovic’s first defeat in an Australian Open semifinal and his first loss at Melbourne Park since 2018.
After defeating Djokovic, 22-year-old Sinner went on to win the Australian Open final against Daniil Medvedev, claiming his first-ever Grand Slam title.
Ivanisevic, speaking to Jutarnji, acknowledged that Djokovic’s loss was inevitable at some point. He expressed disappointment that it happened in this manner but recognized that against Sinner, one cannot expect much if not at their best. Ivanisevic also noted that Djokovic’s performance throughout the entire Australian Open was not up to par. Nevertheless, he emphasized the need to move forward and not dwell on the outcome.
Despite rumors of injury or illness, Djokovic solely attributed his loss to his own performance. Prior to the Australian Open, he had faced a wrist issue at the United Cup. Ivanisevic confirmed that Djokovic was healthy and nothing was bothering him, but it simply did not work out for him on that day. He added that even Djokovic, being human, can experience defeat. Ivanisevic expressed satisfaction that if Djokovic had to lose, it was to Sinner.
Ivanisevic is currently back in Croatia, and he revealed in the interview that Djokovic’s next tournament will be the Indian Wells Masters in early March. This will mark Djokovic’s first appearance at the desert tournament since 2019.