Novak Djokovic’s recent defeat to Jannik Sinner was not a result of any illness, according to coach Goran Ivanisevic. Ivanisevic dismissed reports from various media outlets suggesting that Djokovic’s loss was due to health issues. The coach emphasized that losing is a natural part of sports and not winning every time is to be expected.
For those unfamiliar with the situation, the 36-year-old Serbian suffered a surprising defeat against Sinner at the Rod Laver Arena in the Australian Open semifinals. Djokovic, who was favored to win the tournament and secure his 25th major title, will now have to wait for another opportunity in a Grand Slam event.
In an interview with Sportal, Ivanisevic stated that Djokovic was in good health during the match against Sinner. He also expressed his satisfaction that if Djokovic had to lose, it was to a talented young player like Jannik.
This loss to Sinner marks the third time in three months that Djokovic has been defeated by the rising star. Their first encounter occurred during the group stage of the Nitto ATP Finals. However, Djokovic managed to defeat Sinner in the ultimate final. Another defeat came at the Davis Cup, where Sinner’s victory helped Italy secure their first title in over three decades.
Nevertheless, Sinner’s most remarkable performance was in the Australian Open final. He claimed his first major title, becoming the third Italian player to win a Grand Slam tournament.
Despite the recent setback, Novak Djokovic, currently ranked as the world’s number one player, has announced his participation in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. This will be his first ATP competition of the year, taking place from March 6th to 27th at Indian Wells Garden.
Djokovic’s decision to compete at the BNP Paribas Open suggests that he is ready to move forward and leave the memories of his recent loss behind. He has previously won the tournament five times.
It is worth noting that Djokovic’s last victory in this tournament dates back to 2016, and in his last three appearances, he has failed to advance beyond the Round of 16. Additionally, his participation in the BNP Paribas Open means that he will not be competing in another event scheduled for this month.