The legendary Croatian tennis player revealed in an interview for 24 sata the biggest misconception about Novak Đoković, recalled their collaboration, and announced an exhibition match with Borna Ćorić in Split.
Goran Ivanišević, the 2001 Wimbledon champion, spoke to 24 sata about the biggest misconception people have about Novak Đoković. He emphasized that the public's perception of the Serbian tennis player is often wrong because it is based solely on what is seen on the court.
Ivanišević will play an exhibition match against Croatian tennis player Borna Ćorić on August 29, 2026, at Split's Prokurative. The event will mark exactly 25 years since his triumph at the All England Club, where he defeated Patrick Rafter in five sets in the final.
"I'm glad that people still remember that great success, that even today most of them know where they were that day, where they watched the match and with whom. That's one of the reasons I decided to mark winning Wimbledon by giving young tennis players a chance to learn, and as the crowning touch, Borna Ćorić and I will play an exhibition match," Ivanišević told 24 sata.
In the interview, he also recalled his fruitful collaboration with Đoković, which lasted from 2019 to 2024. He explained what sets him apart from other top tennis players.
"By temperament, he's very similar; it's the same mentality, space, language... What sets him apart from others at the top is mental strength. If you lined up a hundred players without knowing who was who, based on tennis alone they'd all look very similar; you wouldn't know who was first and who was hundredth. But when the match starts, when the important shots and points come, that's when you see the difference," Ivanišević said.
When asked what the biggest misconception about Đoković is, Ivanišević gave a detailed answer describing his character off the court.
"First, he's a person people perceive based on what they see on the court, and that's a wrong perception; he's a big joker and someone who wants to help. He founded a tennis association, foundations, helps everyone; there's no one he hasn't helped. He has time and advice for everyone; I've complained several times because half an hour before a match he'd be tending to everyone around him, but that's him. And then people say, 'Look at him, yelling...' Yes, he yells; he's someone who says what others think, and then they come off looking better, but they're not better than him; they just stay quiet..."
Ivanišević also described Đoković as an extreme and a genius whose behavior during matches serves a purpose.
"He's an extreme, a genius you can't even try to understand because you get lost. He told me at the start of our collaboration, literally, that anyone who can't understand his madness can't work with him. That communication with him, especially during matches, looks very chaotic, but it's how he releases pressure. Half of what he yells at me on such a big court I don't understand; I can't hear him at all, but he's releasing there," Ivanišević explained.
Ivanišević reiterated his stance that Đoković is the greatest tennis player of all time, comparing him to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
"Novak is, for me, one of the greatest athletes in history, and he's the greatest tennis player, by far. If we take Federer, who plays the most beautifully and is nice to watch even when he plays badly, and Nadal, who always gives his all and to whom I'd entrust a match if my life depended on it... Novak is the most complete; he plays the best tennis. He's like a shark or a boa constrictor; he grabs you and just squeezes, there's no coming back..." concluded the 2001 Wimbledon champion.
