Former British No. 1 Laura Robson has given her insight into the relationship between Novak Djokovic and his former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, ahead of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Many in the tennis world were shocked by Djokovic's split from coach Ivanisevic. This is due to the incredible success he had during his five-and-a-half years with the Croatian, including 12 Grand Slam titles.
Ivanisevic has made some interesting comments since their split. For example, he discussed how Djokovic's losses at the Davis Cup Finals last year badly affected him, since playing for his country means so much to him.
Another example is Ivanisevic giving a brutal analysis of his first set performance during Djokovic's loss to Luca Nardi in Indian Wells, saying it was the worst he had ever seen the 24-time Grand Slam champion play in their time together.
Robson has now given her perspective on the split between Djokovic and Ivanisevic in an article for Sky Sports, saying why the pair were like an old married couple after such a long time working together.
"Djokovic and Ivanisevic got along really well and like with a lot of coaching relationships, things just run its course and you felt like they were an old married couple because they had been together for so long."
The former British No. 1 then described how coaching relationships often naturally run their course and that it is good that the decision to split seems to have been a mutual one between the pair.
"He's been on tour so long and sometimes you just need a fresh voice. I read in a Serbian newspaper where Ivanisevic said they had run out of things to say to each other and had exhausted all conversations. It seems like they both knew it was time rather than it being one-sided which is always good."
Finally, Robson also wrote that while Djokovic has been falsely written off on many occasions, staying at the very top of the game will be a bigger challenge for him now due to the level of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
"I think what makes it different this time is that the level of competition is definitely harder given where Sinner and Alcaraz have been playing unbelievably well so maybe that just puts a few thoughts into his mind."
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