Australian Open: Djokovic “needed this victory so badly”, according to his coach Ivanisevic | Sports | The Voice of the East

“He is going through a very difficult period, especially after the US Open last year (disqualified in the round of 16 for having sent a ball without doing it on a linesman, editor’s note) and his poor Roland-Garros final (outclassed in three sets by Rafael Nadal) ”, explained the Croatian coach.

“Coming here (to Australia) he tried to help the other players during his quarantine. He is the only one to have done so, ”added Ivanisevic, referring to a letter sent by Djokovic to the tournament organizers in an attempt to alleviate the living conditions of his colleagues in quarantine in a hotel. In particular, he asked for houses with tennis courts to be made available for training, but had received a categorical “no” in response.

“And everyone falls on him, accused Ivanisevic. There’s no one else, so we’re going after Novak. ”

“People find fault with everything he does. If he says something, it’s not good. If he doesn’t say anything, it’s not good either, ”regretted the coach.

“And then there was the injury, which came out of nowhere. Unbelievable. To be honest I can’t believe I’m here at the press conference as part of the team of the guy who won his ninth Australian Open, ”he added.

“And even his injury was called into question! He had an MRI after his match against Fritz (in the 3rd round when he was injured). The doctor said what he had. And we gave him the choice. There are people who can take the pain. Others cannot, ”said the coach.

Djokovic repeated at a press conference on Sunday what he had said immediately after his match against Fritz, that it was indeed an “abdominal tear”.

The way he had subsequently been able to play with this type of lesion had surprised.

“The key match was the one against Raonic (in the round of 16), and then the one against Zverev (in the quarterfinals, where the Serbian was still suffering). Then it got better and better and today it was a real masterpiece, ”said Ivanisevic.

“He showed the world once again how big he was,” he added. It’s his tournament, like Roland-Garros is Nadal’s. Winning it nine times is incredible. And this victory is even sweeter when you know what he has, the emotions and the sufferings he went through. “

–