Goran Ivanisevic has never been shy about sharing his opinions, and the Croatian legend has once again stirred the eternal Big Three debate by declaring Novak Djokovic the most complete player among tennis's all-time triumvirate.
In a candid interview with SportKlub, Ivanisevic offered a nuanced take on each of the three icons. He praised Roger Federer for his sheer beauty of play, noting that watching the Swiss maestro was a pleasure even on his worst days. He reserved special admiration for Rafael Nadal's relentless competitive spirit, saying he would trust the Spaniard with his life on the line in a match. But when weighing the full body of work, Ivanisevic came down firmly on Djokovic's side, describing the Serbian star as a player who suffocates opponents like a shark or a snake with no escape route for the victim.
The endorsement carries some personal flavor, of course. Ivanisevic coached Djokovic from 2019 to 2023, one of the most decorated stretches in tennis history. During that partnership, Djokovic captured three Wimbledon crowns, two Roland Garros titles, three Australian Open trophies, one US Open, two ATP Finals, and seven ATP 1000 events. The numbers speak for themselves.
Now Ivanisevic has shifted his attention to Arthur Fils, the exciting French talent widely regarded as one of the tour's brightest futures. The pair began working together at the start of the 2026 season, and Fils has already claimed the Barcelona Open title, reached the semifinals at Miami and Madrid, and racked up wins over Felix Auger-Aliassime, Rafael Jodar, Lorenzo Musetti, and Jiri Lehecka.
TennisDraw users tracking Fils as a breakout contender this season will be watching that partnership very closely indeed.
