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Novak Djokovic’s Coach Outrightly Slams ‘Stupid’ Change of Guard Notion as He Gets Real About the Ability of Next Gen Stars Like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Published 08/01/2023, 2:58 PM EDT

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The rise of Carlos Alcaraz Garfia is inevitable, but is it strong enough to take down the legacy of the ‘Big 3’? After the 20-year-old’s dumbfounding Wimbledon victory against Novak Djokovic, the issues have caused a stir in the tennis realm. Alcaraz seems to pave the way for the next generation of young tennis players. But the coach of Djokovic, Goran Ivanisevic, is not of the same view.

The coach of the Serbian tennis legend brought out some big names like Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Holger Rune to support his claims. He feels these narratives are shallow, and the time to take down the legacy of the ‘Big 3’ has not yet arrived.

Coach of Novak Djokovic refutes the supremacy of Carlos Alcaraz, for now

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Carlos Alcaraz has undoubtedly started to gradually mark his place in the tennis realm. Especially after his astounding run at Wimbledon, one cannot deny the champion in the making. However, Goran Ivanisevic, coach of Novak Djokovic, thinks that it is not his time yet.

He believes Djokovic can hold his crown even with the advent of young talents like Alcaraz. In a recent interview with the Croatian outlet, Sportske Novosti, he stated, “Those stories are already a bit ‘stupid’.” 

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There have been young talents budding up for the past few years, however, Djokovic has continued to prove himself the best. Backing the same, he said, “The change of generation has been going on for six or seven years.”

Naming a few top players, both new and relatively not-so-new, he stated, “If we look at (Daniil) Medvedev, (Andrey) Rublev, (Karen) Khachanov, (Denis) Shapovalov, Felix (Auger-Aliassime), (Jannik) Sinner, Alcaraz, (Holger) Rune… Alcaraz has been here for two years.”

Then, he stated how this has not affected Djokovic in any way possible. He stated, “But, let’s say, Medvedev has been here for five or six years. He is 27 years old. They are not from yesterday.” 

via Reuters

He implied how Djokovic has persevered despite the emergence of young talents in the past six years. This stands true when it comes to the rise of Carlos Alcaraz too.

However, this notion is not something that only Ivanisevic believes in. The sensational Spanish player Alcaraz believes it too.

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Alcaraz believes this is no time to replace the era of the ‘Big 3’

Even after taking down the Serbian tennis legend in a nail-biting five-set thriller at Wimbledon, Alcaraz has kept himself humble.

In an interview with Marca, he modestly denied that it’s time for the new generation of players to take over. He stated that as long as Rafael Nadal and Djokovic are playing, there will not be any change in the era. However, he did mention that after their retirement, this debate may resurface.

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What are your views on the issue? Do you think it is yet time for the new generation of tennis players to reign? Let us know your views in the comments below.

WATCH THIS STORY: Despite Horrific Failures, Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Patrick Mouratoglou Spreads Hope on an End to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s Dominance

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Written by:

Shivali Sharma

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Shivali Sharma is a tennis writer at EssentiallySports, who specializes in off-court topics and has a particular focus on the legendary ‘Queen of the Court’, Serena Williams. With a wealth of experience in the industry, Shivali has authored numerous articles covering varied topics concerning the 23-time Grand Slam champion, including her personal life, career, and more. In addition to her work on Serena Williams, Shivali is also a huge fan of Naomi Osaka and admires the four-time Major winner, particularly for her advocacy for mental health.
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Edited by:

Tony Thomas