Novak Djokovic says he is in no rush to discover a new head coach after parting methods with Andy Murray final week, opting as an alternative for stability and endurance as he hunts for his first clay-court win of the season forward of the French Open.
“I’m not in need of a coach at the moment,” Djokovic mentioned Tuesday, forward of his opening match on the Geneva Open towards Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, ranked No. 134. “There’s no reason to rush. I feel good with the people I have around me for the upcoming tournaments – we’ll see how it goes.”
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, has endured a rocky begin to 2025 and break up with Murray as a part of a broader recalibration of his group. For now, he’ll lean on acquainted faces: Dusan Vemic, a longtime member of his camp, has flown in from the U.S. to hitch assistant coach and analyst Boris Bosnjakovic in Geneva.
The partnership with Murray started nicely, with Djokovic defeating Carlos Alcaraz on the Australian Open, solely to be pressured to retire throughout his semifinal towards Alexander Zverev attributable to damage.
“We felt like we couldn’t get more out of that partnership on the court, and that’s all there is to it,” mentioned Djokovic, who turns 38 on Thursday. “My respect towards Andy stays the identical – much more, truly. I acquired to know him as an individual.
“I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ. He has a very rare mind of a champion – obviously, he’s achieved what he has achieved – and he sees the game incredibly well.”
Motivation nonetheless there
The Serb’s anticipate a one centesimal ATP title continues following his withdrawal from the Italian Open.
Djokovic has not gained a match on clay this season, dropping his openers in Monte Carlo and Madrid.
His hopes of a record-breaking twenty fifth Grand Slam title – which might surpass Margaret Court’s long-standing tally of 24 singles majors – seem like fading.
“It’s a different chapter of my life that I’m trying to navigate myself through,” mentioned the three-time French Open champion. “And sure, I’m not notably used to having these sorts of circumstances – dropping consecutive matches, tournaments, first rounds, and so forth. I don’t suppose it’s ever occurred to me within the final 20 years.
“But I knew that eventually that moment would come.”
After skipping Rome, Djokovic mentioned he’s utilizing Geneva as a warm-up for Roland Garros.
“That’s why I’m right here, that’s why I’m enjoying the Geneva match – as a result of I’m making an attempt to do nicely, making an attempt to win extra trophies, making an attempt to construct my type for Roland Garros and carry out on the desired, crucial degree with the intention to go far within the match and problem the most effective gamers on the earth.
“So yes, the motivation is still there.”
Even so, Djokovic mentioned he’s embracing this new part of his profession.
“I know what it takes to be a Grand Slam champion. It’s not as smooth and easy for me as it was 10 years ago. Obviously, things change, and my life has changed a lot – but for the better, to be honest,” he mentioned.
“It’s just a new chapter that I’m embracing. I’m still connected to tennis and still want to express myself on the court. I feel that I still have the game – that I can be one of the contenders for the top Grand Slam titles.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com