Novak Djokovic’s Former Coach Makes Bombshell Declare About Tennis Gamers Being on ‘Antidepressants’ Amid Psychological Well being Considerations
Goran Ivanišević, former Wimbledon champion and longtime coach of Novak Djokovic, pulled again the curtain on a troubling development inside skilled tennis. Talking in regards to the mounting psychological toll on gamers, Ivanišević advised that psychological well being struggles are actually so widespread that “everybody’s on antidepressants.”
His remarks observe Alexander Zverev’s emotional admission about his ongoing psychological battles following a disappointing first-round Wimbledon exit.
Novak Djokovic’s Former Coach Goran Ivanišević Opens Up on Tennis’ Rising Psychological Well being Disaster
Ivanišević, who now coaches Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, opened up in a revealing dialog with Clay Tennis, including to the rising discourse across the psychological pressure elite athletes face.
The timing of his feedback is notable, on condition that Tsitsipas had simply been pressured to retire from his Wimbledon opener as a consequence of a lingering again concern, and Zverev had simply laid naked his emotional turmoil throughout a heartfelt press convention after dropping to Arthur Rinderknech.
The 28-year-old German confessed he was struggling to benefit from the sport or really feel motivated. “I’ve by no means felt this empty earlier than. Simply missing pleasure, simply missing pleasure in the whole lot that I do,” Zverev mentioned in his post-match press convention. “It’s not essentially about tennis. Simply missing pleasure exterior of tennis, as effectively.”
“I really feel very alone on the market at instances. I wrestle mentally,” he added. “I don’t know. It’s tough to search out pleasure exterior the tennis court docket for me for the time being.”
“I’ve by no means felt this empty earlier than. Simply missing pleasure…”
-Alexander Zverev#TheBreakTC | #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/R6AatINwBl— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 6, 2025
Addressing the depth of the game, Ivanišević defined that tennis calls for extra than simply bodily prowess. “Tennis is a person sport, you’re alone on the market,” he mentioned. “We will put together them, however down there it’s a battle. A coach must be a psychologist. It’s much less about instructing forehands and backhands now, it’s all within the head.”
The 2001 Wimbledon champion emphasised that psychological energy is the important thing separator amongst high gamers, noting, “Everybody is aware of the best way to hit, the distinction is psychological. After I take heed to gamers, everybody’s on antidepressants, Zverev says he’s in a foul place…”
Ivanišević Questions the Supply of Stress on In the present day’s Stars
Ivanišević additionally touched on gamers’ immense stress, questioning the place all of it stems from. “I don’t know why they put a lot stress on themselves. Possibly it’s exterior expectations, society’s expectations, they’ll’t deal with it,” he mentioned.
He pointed to Zverev’s struggles for instance, highlighting how the German as soon as discovered himself blocked by the dominance of Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal and now has to take care of the rise of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “He’s No. 3, he trains, however he’s nonetheless far,” Ivanišević noticed. “That results in frustration.”
The Croatian coach described tennis as “brutal” and mentally “powerful,” noting that, in contrast to group sports activities, there are not any substitutes or halftimes. He additionally praised the psychological fortitude of the youthful stars, saying, “It’s important to admire Sinner and Alcaraz. They’ve their groups, their path, and so they simply maintain pushing ahead with out trying again.”
