'Salty' Novak Djokovic complains about ATP award snub after record-breaking season
Watch now: Novak Djokovic has had a huge year
Novak Djokovic has taken offence to the ATP snubbing his long-term coach Goran Ivanisevic despite the pair's achievements in 2023.
Djokovic's bid to be regarded as the greatest of all time was helped even further this year as he finished another season as the world No 1 with countless records along the way.
Ivanisevic has been an ever-present by his side and Djokovic regularly credits the 2001 Wimbledon champion for helping his game.
But despite Ivanisevic's role in Djokovic's incredible career, he's never been awarded the Coach of the Year award by the ATP.
Novak Djokovic has worked with Goran Ivanisevic for many years
GETTY
And he was snubbed again for 2023, with both Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi given the prize for their work with Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic offered his congratulations to the experienced coaches on social media.
"Congratulations to Darren and Simone for a great season with Jannik," Djokovic first wrote.
But while the Serbian was happy for his ATP rival coach, he was clearly offended that Ivanisevic was overlooked.
Djokovic won three of the four majors - reaching the final in the other - and broke all sorts of records in another memorable year for the tennis icon.
He added: "Goran, I guess we need to win 4/4 Slams in order for you to maybe (just maybe) be considered coach of the year.
"Winning Year End #1, 3 GS and WTF [World Tour Finals] and making history of this sport is not enough, my dear coach."
Djokovic's complaints didn't go down well on social media though with one X user branding him "salty".
They wrote: "As if they even matter lol. Djokovic is a salty clown."
Another said: "To be honest, anybody on this app could have been Djokovic's coach and he still probably would have won 3 slams."
A third posted: "Djokovic doesn’t even need a coach to win lol."
Djokovic's third Grand Slam title of the year at Flushing Meadows saw him tie the all-time record currently held by Margaret Court.
He also became the oldest man to win the US Open singles title at the age of 36 with Ivanisevic praising it was one of the greatest achievements in all of sport.
Novak Djokovic ended the year as world No 1
GETTY
"He’s a genius. He’s one of a kind. Not too many people in this world like him sport-wise,” Ivanisevic said of Djokovic.
“This is one of the biggest achievements in the sport’s history. We’re not talking about tennis. We are talking generally in sport.’
“He’s a winner. He’s the guy who is motivating himself.
"He had the luck of guys like Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer who came before him and they pushed each other.’
“But he’s a born winner. When you tell him he cannot do something, it’s even worse.
"Then he’s going to show you that he can do it. It’s no excuses.
"He always tries to find a way to win, how to fight, even when he’s not feeling well, injured, not injured.”
You may like
