Former Mental Guru Comes Out in Support of Novak Djokovic Following His Involvement in Controversies

In a 19 year-long professional career, Novak Djokovic has been the center of attraction in several controversies, recently being his deportation from Australia. Recently, Djokovic’s former mental guru, Pepe Imaz, expressed his views on the matter saying, “He is a human being and he learns.”

Pepe Imaz worked with Novak Djokovic between 2016-2018. A period in which Djokovic faced a sudden downfall. Even though the world blamed Imaz’s influence on Djokovic as the root cause of the downfall, the player has always denied the allegations. Ending the tie-up in 2018, Pepe is currently working with Novak’s brother Marko Djokovic, whom he advises spiritually.

Imaz recently featured in an interview with the Spanish daily sports newspaper, AS. In the interview, the former player and coach Pepe spoke about his method of working and how it benefits the players. He even gave his views on Novak Djokovic. However, what caught the most attention was his views on how Djokovic overcomes all the controversies he lives with.

Pepe Imaz on how Djokovic overcomes controversies

Speaking to AS, Imaz came out to support the former World No. 1. He asserted that Djokovic does everything from his heart and has a clean intention towards everything. “As I feel and observe him, everything he has done, he has done with the best intention and desire to help and contribute from the status he has in the world of tennis.”

Even though Pepe accepted that the Serbian was also wrong at some places, he advocated Novak accepted the criticism and took it as a learning. “For some, he was wrong, and he lived the criticism and received it with acceptance and learning. He thus he took them better and digested them.”

The Spanish coach also said that Djokovic has even accepted the right of opinion of every person and in every matter. However, he went on criticizing the people for not having enough knowledge about the matter and making opinions based on that half knowledge. “The information arrives very blurred and is not very close to reality. Still, people dare to throw opinions.”

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Imaz, who last played in the professional circuit in 2003, concluded by re-stressing on his first point and claiming that whatever Djokovic has created till now has been given to people in need.

The controversies of Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has been involved in several controversies in his career. Here are a few of the latest controversies that surrounded the former World No. 1.

In 2020, the whole world experienced one of its worst sufferings, the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost every country underwent either a complete lockdown or strict restrictions. However, even in these difficult times, in June 2020, Novak Djokovic organized the Ardia Tour. He received immense criticism from around the world when several people involved in the event tested positive for Covid-19.

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It was Djokovic vs. Pablo Carreno Busta in the 4th round of the US Open. Djokovic angrily smashed the ball towards the back of the court. However, the ball struck directly at the throat of a female line umpire. The lady fell on the court and struggled to catch her breath for a couple of seconds. Considering his unruly act, the Serbian was disqualified from the tournament.

The latest of the controversies happened at the start of the year. After a very successful 2021, Djokovic came to Australia, hoping to defend his Australian Open crown. However, because of his unvaccinated status, he wasn’t allowed to take part. The former World No. 1 was first detained and then sent back.

Novak Djokovic is arguably one of the greatest tennis players to grace the planet. He has shown his mental toughness time and again and will surely bounce back from a controversial start to the year.