Ex-Djokovic team member discloses what caused Nole’s downfall.

Marco Panichi, the Serbian’s former fitness coach, revealed that the Davis Cup defeat against Jannik Sinner was a significant element in the collapse of the ATP No.1.

In a recent interview with Italian channel SuperTennis, Novak Djokovic’s former physical trainer, Marco Panichi, described the defeat that may have contributed to the Serbian champion’s dip in the 2024 tennis season. According to Panichi, the 37-year-old Serbian’s confidence was shaken not by his failure in the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz, but by his loss in the Davis Cup semifinal to Jannik Sinner.

“All of the players are receiving these messages. Let us not forget that Nole lost the Wimbledon final despite having a significant lead in the tie-break of the second set, wasting it in a stunning manner with two basic blunders. Above all, the volleyed slap at the start of the fifth set had the potential to shift the match in Nole’s favor. Let us not forget, however, that he won the US Open and the ATP Finals shortly after, most notably the final in Cincinnati, which was one of the most beautiful matches I have ever seen,” he stated.

Panichi noted that the Serbian champion found it most difficult to swallow his Davis Cup encounter against Sinner. “I believe that from a mental point of view, the match lost against Sinner in the Davis Cup was paid for by Nole more than any other,” he stated. It was a difficult start to the season for the Serbian champion, who, after years of enormous power and undisputed dominance, began to suffer from both physical and, most likely, psychological issues. Nole has not won any titles in the first half of 2024. The Serbian champion has resolved to devote as much of his energy as possible to the year’s most crucial events.

Djokovic has only competed in four tournaments, losing in the semifinals to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open and Casper Ruud at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters. Added to these two are the most unsettling setbacks against Luca Nardi in the round of 32 at Indian Wells and the recent defeat in Rome against Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, as well as the semi-final loss in Geneva to Tomas Machac. Discouraging indicators for Roland Garros?