"Novak Djokovic didn't feel that pain on his skin" - When Darko Milicic questioned Djokovic for hiring Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic as coach

Former Serbian NBA star Darko Milicic once raised objections to his compatriot Novak Djokovic's partnership with Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic.

Djokovic hired Ivanisevic as his coach in the lead-up to the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. The Serb's partnership with Ivanisevic yielded immediate success as he successfully defended his title and clinched his fifth trophy at SW19, edging past Roger Federer in the final.

Although their partnership has gone on to achieve even greater success in the years since, its inception was shrouded in controversy. Many of the Serb's countrymen questioned his partnership with the Croatian due to the fraught political history and ethnic tensions between the two nations.

The deep-seated conflict stemming from Croatia's violent war for independence from Serb-controlled Yugoslavia led several Serbs to critique the wisdom of the partnership.

At the time, Darko Milicic claimed that Novak Djokovic placed a lot of importance on being universally liked and that he promoted a message of love and unity. He also questioned his compatriot's ability to understand and empathize with the conflict between his fellow countrymen and Croatians due to his lack of personal experience with that pain.

Milicic suggested that if the Serb had undergone that ordeal, he might not have decided to hire Ivanisevic.

"As far as I understand, it is important for Novak that people like him, I can see that he really tries and works hard to make everyone like him. That's how he lives, relaxed, his motto is 'let's love each other.' I'm more extreme about that," Milicic said (via Serbia publication Espreso).

"Maybe all that with the Croats doesn't touch him because, thank God, he didn't feel all that pain on his own skin and maybe there aren't people around who felt that pain. If he had, he might have behaved differently," he added.

Novak Djokovic won three Grand Slam titles in 2023 under coach Goran Ivanisevic's guidance

Novak Djokovic and Goran Ivanisevic

Novak Djokovic's continued partnership with Goran Ivanisevic reaped rich rewards in the 2023 season. The Serb made a triumphant return to the Australian Open in 2023, clinching his record-extending 10th trophy at the event and 22nd Grand Slam title overall. He triumphed over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final in straight sets.

The Serb's success continued at the French Open as he became the first man to achieve the triple Career Grand Slam. He won his third Roland Garros title by defeating Casper Ruud 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-5 in the summit clash. In doing so, he also clinched his record-breaking 23rd Major title.

Djokovic had the opportunity to break his tie with Serena Williams and accomplish the Open Era Grand Slam record at the Wimbledon Championships. However, the Serb fell short in the final, narrowly losing to Carlos Alcaraz.

Nevertheless, he accomplished the feat at the US Open, defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 in the final to claim his fourth title at the New York Major and 24th Major title overall.