Goran Ivanisevic, the former coach of Novak Djokovic, has implied that Carlos Alcaraz’s victory in the 2023 Wimbledon final may have been partly due to luck.
In that memorable match, Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in a thrilling five-set contest, clinching his second Grand Slam men’s singles title. The final was marked by contentious moments, including Djokovic’s reactions to the crowd’s jeers, which included gestures like cupping his ear, blowing sarcastic kisses, and smashing his racket against the net post.
Alcaraz emerged victorious with a score of 1-6 7-6 6-1 3-6 6-4, ending Djokovic’s remarkable streak of 45 consecutive wins on Centre Court and preventing him from securing a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title.
Although Ivanisevic acknowledged Alcaraz’s skill and congratulated him, he hinted that the outcome could have been different if a few key points had gone Djokovic’s way.
“While recognizing Alcaraz’s achievement,” Ivanisevic told Sport Klub, “the final result might have hinged on just one or two pivotal points.”
Having recently ended his coaching partnership with Djokovic after six years, Ivanisevic shared that he felt their collaboration had run its course. Despite their differences, he acknowledged their joint success in elevating Djokovic’s career and the sport of tennis.
Meanwhile, Djokovic is now in search of a new coach, with speculation in Serbia suggesting Judy Murray, Andy Murray’s mother, as a potential candidate.
Djokovic’s career took an unexpected turn when he suffered a shocking defeat to No.123 Luca Nardi at Indian Wells in March, marking one of the most surprising losses of his career.
