Novak Djokovic Faces Intense Pressure and Physical Challenges: Experience as “Severe Heart Attack”

Novak Djokovic’s long-serving physio Miljan Amanovic was forced to adapt his career after suffering a heart attack which he attributed to the stress of travelling on the tennis tour. Amanovic started working with the world No. 1 back in 2007 but has since taken a step back, working at Djokovic’s tennis centre in Serbia and travelling with him on a part-time basis.

Amanovic has been one of several trusted figures in Djokovic’s camp since the early days of his career. The pair started working together a year before the Serb won his first Grand Slam title in 2008 but they briefly split in 2017, when Djokovic gutted his team entirely, also axing long-term coach Marian Vajda and fitness trainer Gebhard Phil Gritsch.

Key Novak Djokovic team member suffered 'severe heart attack' due to 'stress  of tennis tour'

While Amanovic eventually returned to Djokovic’s box, it came after he suffered a heart attack which meant that he could no longer travel full-time. The incident is mentioned in Novak Djokovic: The greatest of all time, a new book profiling the 24-time Major champion’s rise to the top of tennis.

In 2017, when Novak made wholesale changes to his support team, Amanovic stopped working with him. That same year, the physio suffered a heart attack, brought on, he said, by the stress of travelling full-time on the ATP Tour,” the book states.

Novak Djokovic's physio suffered 'severe heart attack' due to 'stress of  tennis tour' | Tennis | Sport | Express.co.uk

After making a full recovery, the Croatian physio later said: “I survived a severe heart attack. I was resuscitated four times. Now I can say that it was God’s will in the true sense of the word, because if only one link in the chain of events had not been in place that day, I would probably have left this earthly life. They say that they fought for me for 40 minutes.”

Djokovic eventually rehired Amanovic and Vajda after getting rid of them in 2017. While Vajda left the camp for good in 2022, Amanovic has been seen cheering the world No. 1 on as recently as last month at the Australian Open. But he was forced to relieve his workload after the heart attack.

In 2022, Djokovic announced that the physio would be taking up a new role at his Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade. “Miljan has travelled a lot, he has got three kids. Also, we have big plans here in the Novak Tennis Centre, we intend to transform it to an Academy, and Miljan is one of the key people there. I am delighted that he has accepted that role, he will mean the world to us,” he said during the Serbia Open – a tournament held at his facility.

But Amanovic was back in his team by the end of the year after the world No. 1 got rid of his other physiotherapist Ulises Badio, who he hired in May 2017. Amanovic – who also worked with Red Star Belgrade – travelled to the 2023 Australian Open with Djokovic, who won the title despite suffering a hamstring tear.

He paid tribute to his long-time physio for looking after his body during the tournament, telling Serbian reporters: “Miljan is one of the closest people in my life. He has been working a lot these days, always gives his best. I am very grateful to Miljan, it would be a lot harder without him.”

Amanovic has been travelling with Djokovic more often in recent months and was seen in his box again at this year’s Aussie Open. It’s a testament to their bond, as the physio continues to work with the 36-year-old after his ordeal.

Novak Djokovic: The greatest of all time by Dominic Bliss and published by Ivy Press is out on February 29.

Related Posts

Rafael Nadal Enjoys a Well-Deserved Break on the Costa del Sol with His Family

After his retirement, the tennis player enjoyed a family meal in Fuengirola, a town very close to Marbella and Estepona, where the tennis player has invested a million euros to build luxury homes. Nadal fought for every point until the end…

Read more

Serena Williams Flaunts Her Strength on the Tennis Court While Sharing Her Postpartum Weight Loss Journey

Serena Williams demonstrated her incredible flexibility an Instagram slideshow on Tuesday amid her postpartum weight loss journey. Decked out in a muted pink workout gear, the iconic athlete, 42, showed off some of her yoga moves on a tennis court and …

Read more

Venus Williams gets Wimbledon-ready in style with her matching pink outfit during practice

The sportswoman, 43, slipped into a pair of pale pink hot pants and a matching V-neck T-shirt for the session. She’s set to make her 24th appearance in the singles draw at Wimbledon after being given a wild-card entry on. And Venus Williams made sure …

Read more

Superhero moment: Venus Williams stuns with a sparkling Wonder Woman mask at Miami Open

She is a tennis superstar. But Venus Williams channeled an actual super hero as she faced off against Zarina Diyas in the Miami Open on Tuesday. Venus, 40, looked fierce as she arrived to the match wearing a Wonder Woman face mask and coordinating dress. …

Read more

Rafael Nadal’s Epic Journey: How He Became a Tennis Icon?

TPO – Rafael Nadal has officially retired from tennis, but he will always be remembered as a great player with a strong will, an endless desire to win and a constant effort to improve himself. Rafael Nadal must have been in great pain when …

Read more

Family Goals: Alexis Ohanian and Daughters Celebrate Serena Williams’ Incredible Journey

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian are approaching nearly a decade of their remarkable partnership. What began as a chance encounter filled with humor blossomed into a loving marriage and parenthood, with the couple now raising two beautiful daughters. …

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *