Goran Ivanišević, former Wimbledon champion and longtime coach of Novak Djokovic, pulled back the curtain on a troubling trend within professional tennis. Speaking about the mounting psychological toll on players, Ivanišević suggested that mental health struggles are now so widespread that “everyone’s on antidepressants.”
His remarks follow Alexander Zverev’s emotional admission about his ongoing mental battles following a disappointing first-round Wimbledon exit.
Novak Djokovic’s Former Coach Goran Ivanišević Opens Up on Tennis’ Growing Mental Health Crisis
Ivanišević, who now coaches Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, opened up in a revealing conversation with Clay Tennis, adding to the growing discourse around the mental strain elite athletes face.
The timing of his comments is notable, given that Tsitsipas had just been forced to retire from his Wimbledon opener due to a lingering back issue, and Zverev had just laid bare his emotional turmoil during a heartfelt press conference after losing to Arthur Rinderknech.
The 28-year-old German confessed he was struggling to enjoy the game or feel motivated. “I’ve never felt this empty before. Just lacking joy, just lacking joy in everything that I do,” Zverev said in his post-match press conference. “It’s not necessarily about tennis. Just lacking joy outside of tennis, as well.”
“I feel very alone out there at times. I struggle mentally,” he added. “I don’t know. It’s difficult to find joy outside the tennis court for me at the moment.”
“I’ve never felt this empty before. Just lacking joy…”
-Alexander Zverev#TheBreakTC | #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/R6AatINwBl— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 6, 2025
Addressing the intensity of the sport, Ivanišević explained that tennis demands more than just physical prowess. “Tennis is an individual sport, you’re alone out there,” he said. “We can prepare them, but down there it’s a battle. A coach has to be a psychologist. It’s less about teaching forehands and backhands now, it’s all in the head.”
The 2001 Wimbledon champion emphasized that mental strength is the key separator among top players, noting, “Everyone knows how to hit, the difference is mental. When I listen to players, everyone’s on antidepressants, Zverev says he’s in a bad place…”
Ivanišević Questions the Source of Pressure on Today’s Stars
Ivanišević also touched on players’ immense pressure, questioning where it all stems from. “I don’t know why they put so much pressure on themselves. Maybe it’s outside expectations, society’s expectations, they can’t handle it,” he said.
He pointed to Zverev’s struggles as an example, highlighting how the German once found himself blocked by the dominance of Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal and now has to contend with the rise of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “He’s No. 3, he trains, but he’s still far,” Ivanišević observed. “That leads to frustration.”
The Croatian coach described tennis as “brutal” and mentally “tough,” noting that, unlike team sports, there are no substitutes or halftimes. He also praised the mental fortitude of the younger stars, saying, “You have to admire Sinner and Alcaraz. They have their teams, their path, and they just keep pushing forward without looking back.”