Novak Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic says the world No. 1 could still play at the Miami Open later this month.
Ivanisevic says the 22-time Grand Slam champion would like to compete at the Florida tournament, but it would not be “the end of the world” if he is unable to.
“He wants to play and I would love it if they allow him – it would be great both for him and for tennis. If not, it’s not the end of the world, he didn’t play last year as well.
“The most important thing is that we find out soon, so that we can make a plan.
“Although, in terms of preparing for the European clay court season, I’m not sure playing in Miami is the best solution. It depends on Novak – in the past he has triumphed in Monte Carlo having played in Indian Wells and Miami.
“If he is mentally ready and in his fighter mode, like he was in Australia, then anything is possible.”
Ivanisevic says the main focus for Djokovic now is the clay court season and the French Open which gets underway on May 28.
The Croat believes Djokovic could beat his great rival and 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal on his favoured surface if he is mentally prepared for the fight.
He said: “First of all, nothing is comparable to last year, a year no ordinary human being would ‘survive’.
“After everything that happened in Australia, he was sick and stuck to his bed for 10 days before the clay court season.
“In Monte Carlo, he could barely breathe, it was a bit better in Belgrade, and then he started to play better – Madrid, Rome, all the way to the Roland Garros quarter-final [against Nadal]. To be honest, I still don’t know what happened there, I still find that match a bit odd.
Djokovic has ‘lots of desire’ to break more records, talks up Paris Olympics bid
“Novak just wasn’t mentally ready to fight [Rafael] Nadal, who was the better player and deserved to win.
“So this year, the most important thing is to stay healthy and to prepare really well physically.
“Of course, our main focus is Roland Garros, he needs to be ready to give it his all there.
“He can do it. Nadal is the favourite on clay as long as he can walk, but if Novak is mentally up for it, he can beat anyone.”
– – –
Read the full article here
