Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Novak Djokovic Responds to Former Coach Goran’s Bold Wimbledon Call – “I Don’t Think I’m the Favourite Right Now”

Goran Ivanisevic declared Djokovic the only man who can stop Sinner and Alcaraz. Novak responded with respect.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Fresh off a four-set win over Alex de Minaur and with Roger Federer watching from the royal box, Novak Djokovic was faced with more than just questions about his next opponent. At his post-match press conference, he was asked about a bold prediction from his former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, who believes Djokovic is the only player capable of stopping Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon 2025.

Djokovic on Goran Ivanisevic saying he’s the favorite to win Wimbledon over Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, ‘I love Goran and I’m happy he loves me back 😂 but I don’t think I’m a favorite against these guys at the moment’

“Your former coach Goran Ivanisevic says you’re the… pic.twitter.com/5bU9XFcVZB
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 7, 2025

Djokovic Pushes Back on Favorite Talk

In his post-match press conference, Djokovic was asked about Ivanisevic’s prediction, “Your former coach Goran Ivanisevic says you’re the only one capable of beating Sinner and Alcaraz. He says you’re the favorite to win here. Do you agree?”

Djokovic smiled and responded, “I love Goran and I’m happy he loves me back. But I don’t think I’m a favorite against these guys at the moment. I think they are, both of them. But I do probably have my best chance here against them. If it comes down to me facing one of them or two of them, which I hope so… that means I’ll proceed to the finals… then I’ll obviously look for my best game to win.”

NOVAK DJOKOVIC. 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

One of the points of the year.

38 years old.

The man is timeless.

pic.twitter.com/SCDa6btwYx
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 6, 2025

Ivanisevic, meanwhile, had no such doubts. In a recent interview with Clay, he said the draw looks wide open for Djokovic until at least the semifinals and emphasized that Sinner has never beaten him at Wimbledon. For the former Wimbledon champion, the Serb’s grass-court expertise remains unmatched.

“Everyone says this is his last chance,” Ivanisevic said. “I don’t agree… he’s the best grass-court player, experienced, he knows exactly what it takes here.”

He also pushed back against the narrative that Alcaraz or Sinner would beat Rafael Nadal on clay, calling it “nonsense” and saying he’d bet on a peak Nadal against either. For Ivanisevic, greatness doesn’t fade easily and Djokovic, in his view, still belongs at the top.

Novak Djokovic celebrated with a family dance and a thumbs up to Roger Federer after advancing to the Wimbledon quarterfinals 🙌 pic.twitter.com/5NbgTDBjlj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 7, 2025

As Djokovic gears up to face Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals, it might just be Goran speaking from sentiment, or it could be the sharp instinct of a 53-year-old former Wimbledon champion whose two decades of coaching experience know exactly what greatness looks like.

Mandatory Image Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Novak Djokovic

Wimbledon 2025

Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.