It is the ATP's year-end Awards Week, but surprisingly, Novak Djokovic and his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, are not collecting any trophies.
Djokovic was the ATP's most consistent performer last season, tallying a higher winning rate than any other player and lifting seven titles - the most garnered by a single player in 2023 - despite only appearing in 12 ATP tournaments.
Djokovic decimated the field at all the most important tournaments, winning three of the four Grand Slams this year and breaking a two-man tie with Roger Federer at the ATP Finals, where he scooped his 7th championship.
However, Djokovic was not in control of the ATP's awards this week, which honors the standout players and coaches at the end of the season. He also did not have the significant backing of the fans and fellow coaches who voted in some of these award categories.
Jannik Sinner outshined the Serbian for the ATP Fans' Favorite Award, and his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, has now missed out on the Coach of the Year award, which is nominated and voted by fellow ATP coaches.
Ivanisevic was announced in a five-man shortlist but Sinner's coaching duo of Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi beat him to the award. Here are some of the reactions from Djokovic fans from social media platform X upon hearing the news.
"Corrupt as hell. Zero slams zero ATP Finals win and these clowns are the coaches of the year?" One wrote.
"What!!! Goran did not get the coach award??? This is truly an outrage!!! Total bigotry against those from the Balkans! Simply disgraceful!" was the response of another furious fan.
Djokovic fans were upset and furious and made their feelings known. One user questioned the meritocracy of the voting system given what Djokovic has achieved this season, "Um, what about the person who coached the player who won 3 Grand slams, the ATP Finals, and the most titles this year?"
In another tweet, "I mean idc about the popularity awards but jeewiz this is totally f******g ridiculous… also remember the excuses when Novak had 2 coaches that the award can’t go to 2 coaches."
Another user wrote, "Coach Ivanisevic with the 24&3GS/2MST/7th YEC/8th YE No1 champion and 400 weeks No1 Novak Djokovic. But still can not get the ridiculous ATP's coach award. Now we clear Nike/Gucci and ATP want to promote the new gen."
0 Comments