Former Serbian NBA star Darko Milicic as soon as raised his objections to his compatriot Novak Djokovic’s partnership with Croatia’s Goran Ivanisevic.

Djokovic employed Ivanisevic as his coach within the lead-up to the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. The Serb’s partnership with Ivanisevic yielded instant success as he efficiently defending his title and clinched his fifth trophy at SW19, edging previous Roger Federer within the closing,

Though their partnership has gone on to attain even better success, its inception was shrouded in controversy as lots of the Serb’s countrymen objected to his partnership with the Croatian as a result of fraught political historical past and ethnic tensions between the 2 nations. The deep-seated battle stemming from Croatia’s violent struggle for independence from Serb-controlled Yugoslavia led a number of Serbs to query the knowledge of the partnership.

Darko Milicic joined the critics, stating that Novak Djokovic positioned significance on being universally appreciated and promoted a message of affection and unity.

Nonetheless, he questioned his compatriot’s capability to grasp and empathize with the battle between his fellow countrymen and Croatians attributable to his lack of private expertise with that ache. Milicic steered that if the Serb had undergone that ordeal, his determination to rent Ivanisevic might need been completely different.

“As far as I understand, it is important for Novak that people like him, I can see that he really tries and works hard to make everyone like him. That’s how he lives, relaxed, his motto is “let’s love one another.” I’m more extreme about that,” he stated (through Serbia publication Espreso).

“Maybe all that with the Croats doesn’t touch him because, thank God, he didn’t feel all that pain on his own skin and maybe there aren’t people around who felt that pain. If he had, he might have behaved differently,” he added.

Novak Djokovic gained three Grand Slam titles in 2023 underneath coach Goran Ivanisevic’s steerage

Novak Djokovic’s continued partnership with Goran Ivanisevic reaped rewards within the 2023 season. The Serb made a triumphant return to the Australian Open in 2023, clinching his record-extending tenth title on the occasion and securing his twenty second Grand Slam title. He triumphed over Stefanos Tsitsipas within the closing in straight units.

The Serb’s success continued on the French Open as he turned the primary man to attain the triple profession Grand Slam. He gained his third Roland Garros title by defeating Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 within the summit conflict. In doing so, he additionally clinched his record-breaking twenty third main title.

Djokovic obtained the chance to interrupt his tie with Serena Williams and attain the Open Period Grand Slam file on the Wimbledon Championships. Nonetheless, the Serb fell brief within the closing, narrowly shedding to Carlos Alcaraz.

Nonetheless, he achieved the feat on the US Open, defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 within the closing to assert his fourth title on the New York Main and his file twenty fourth Main title general.