Carlos Alcaraz backlash as Novak Djokovic coach makes 'stupid' blast after Wimbledon drama
Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic in the recent Wimbledon final
PA
Novak Djokovic's coach Goran Ivanisevic has slammed 'stupid' comments that Carlos Alcaraz's recent Wimbledon win has seen a changing of the guard in tennis.
The 20-year-old is the talk of the sport after powering his way past Djokovic, who had been hoping to win a 24th Grand Slam.
Alcaraz's second major triumph has seen some express a belief that a new era of tennis is nigh.
With Djokovic and Rafael Nadal entering the twilight years of their respective careers, and Roger Federer already retired, the next generation are ready to step up.
Carlos Alcaraz embraces Novak Djokovic after recent Wimbledon final
PA
But Ivanisevic, speaking to Sportske Novosti, is unhappy with those claims.
“Those stories are already a bit ‘stupid’,” he said. “The change of generation has been going on for six or seven years.
"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, but, let’s say, Medvedev has been here for five or six years, he is 27 years old. They are not from yesterday.
“Alcaraz is a story by himself, and Sinner is the only one who can threaten him at the US Open, along with Novak.
"The game that Sinner has doesn’t match Alcaraz and they have had very interesting matches so far.
"Also, if Medvedev plays well on the day, he is also a phenomenal player for me.
"Novak remains the only ‘dinosaur’ among those older ones, the rest are all young guys.
"It’s a normal sequence, but there’s still something to ask the elders.”
Djokovic, throughout his career, has faced scrutiny over the way he conducts himself on court - despite the records he's achieved speaking for themselves.
He was tetchy during the Wimbledon final defeat to Alcaraz and was seen remonstrating with his box.
But Ivanisevic has now shut down suggestions that Djokovic oversteps the mark and insists the Serb isn't combative.
“No, that's nonsense,” added the former Wimbledon finalist.
“First of all, I can't hear half of what he says. These are huge courts, the crowd is shouting and you can't hear.
"It doesn't bother me, it's emotions, he has to get it out somehow.
“It's constantly reported 'He shouted again, this again, that again...' We've talked a million times and I don't have a problem with it at all.
"I was also a tennis player once, sometimes it's difficult to say a technical thing in two seconds.
"What's important is that he plays as well as he possibly can.”
Djokovic is now focused on winning the US Open, with that tournament due to commence later this month on August 28.
Ivanisevic says the world No 2 is 'motivated', having last played at Flushing Meadows two years ago.
“He was in Dubrovnik, on Korcula. He rested a bit, but now preparations are starting for the American tour,” he said.
Wimbledon star Carlos Alcaraz is the talk of tennis following his recent triumph
PA
“Preparations begin at the end of next week, fitness starts slowly, and then tennis. I don’t know exactly, but there the week after he leaves for Cincinnati.”
He continued: “He is always motivated, a Grand Slam is a Grand Slam. It will be a big fight again.
"It is good that at Wimbledon, but also before in Paris, a rivalry was created between two players who are 16 years apart. Each of their next matches will be even better, crazier and more watched.”