A detailed analysis: parting ways with Djokovic was the most misguided decision made by Ivanisevic.

Under the guidance of former Croatian tennis player Ivanisevic, Djokovic experienced one of the most successful periods of his career. This former world number two and 2001 Wimbledon champion began collaborating with Djokovic in 2018. At that time, Djokovic and his then-coach Vajda believed they needed an expert to enhance his serve, and Ivanisevic was one of the best servers in the world during his playing days.

Together, this duo achieved some of the greatest accomplishments in their respective careers. Ivanisevic's only significant coaching achievement prior to this was helping Cilic win the US Open in 2014. Under the guidance of this Croatian coach, Djokovic won 12 of his 24 Grand Slam titles.

However, despite their remarkable success, the two shocked the world by parting ways in March 2024. Since then, both Djokovic and Ivanisevic have experienced relatively unsuccessful periods. Here are three main reasons why parting with Djokovic was the worst decision of Ivanisevic's coaching career.

1. Djokovic was the most successful player Ivanisevic ever coached.

Their collaboration began in 2018. At that time, Djokovic and coach Vajda sought to innovate their playing style, believing that strengthening the serve was a crucial step toward achieving great goals.

Thus, they brought in Ivanisevic. This Croatian coach had previously worked with players like Cilic, Berdych, and Raonic, and he led Cilic to a surprise victory at the 2014 US Open.

From 2018 to 2022, Ivanisevic and Vajda formed the core coaching team for Djokovic. After Vajda left in 2022, Ivanisevic officially took over as head coach.

Under his leadership, Djokovic won an astounding 4 Australian Opens, 2 French Opens, 4 Wimbledons, and 2 US Opens. Additionally, this 24-time Grand Slam champion secured two year-end championship titles in 2022 and 2023, amassing a total prize money of $188,934,053, making him the highest earner in the Open Era.

This was the most successful and longest coaching partnership in Ivanisevic's career. His three years with Cilic ranks second. Ivanisevic fondly remembers his time with Djokovic and may consider it a missed opportunity.

2. Since parting ways with Djokovic, Ivanisevic's multiple coaching attempts have all been unsuccessful.

After splitting with Djokovic in March 2024, Ivanisevic worked with several professional players, but these collaborations were brief and unproductive. Shortly after the split, in November of that year, Ivanisevic was announced as the new coach of 2022 US Open champion Rybakina. The pairing of this Grand Slam champion with Djokovic's former coach attracted considerable attention, and fans hoped they would create a stir.

However, this partnership faced issues off the court, leading to an early termination of Ivanisevic's coaching role. He described this collaboration as "a strange and sad story." After Rybakina's fourth-round exit at the 2025 Australian Open, the two officially parted ways.

Next, after a poor performance at the French Open, Tsitsipas announced hiring Ivanisevic as a coach, hoping to achieve breakthroughs during the grass season. However, they exited early at both the Halle Open and Wimbledon, announcing the end of their collaboration on July 23.

Tsitsipas referred to his time with Ivanisevic as "a brief but intense experience, a truly valuable chapter in my career." However, their split was contentious, with Ivanisevic publicly commenting on Tsitsipas's physical condition, sparking considerable discussion.

3. Ivanisevic's coaching reputation has been affected since parting ways with Djokovic.

Since leaving Djokovic in 2024, Ivanisevic's coaching attempts have not only failed but have also been short-lived. He was accustomed to the glory moments of winning Grand Slam titles, whether with Djokovic or early on with Cilic, which kept him among the top coaches.

However, the brief and controversial collaborations with Rybakina and Tsitsipas have significantly impacted his coaching reputation. Today's players are more cautious when choosing coaches, concerned about potential off-court issues and questioning whether he can still bring genuine improvement.

Undoubtedly, parting ways with Djokovic was the worst decision of Ivanisevic's coaching career.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)