Riccardo Piatti: The Serbian isn’t the player that most impressed me.

Novak Djokovic’s former coach, Riccardo Piatti, recently shared that Maria Sharapova was the player who left the most lasting impression on him among all the tennis stars he has coached.

The esteemed Italian coach characterized his time working with Sharapova as “truly special” and acknowledged her as the player with whom he “experienced the most success,” despite not achieving notable results.

While Piatti coached Djokovic during the period from late 2005 to June 2006 and foresaw the Serbian’s potential to reach the pinnacle of the tennis world, his admiration for Sharapova stems from their collaboration in 2019 and 2020 towards the end of her illustrious career. In an interview with TV Monaco, Piatti explained that Sharapova impressed him the most, despite the relatively short duration of their partnership.

Piatti highlighted the uniqueness of working with Sharapova, emphasizing the special nature of their collaboration as she neared the conclusion of her career. He commended Sharapova for her thoughtful and strategic approach, expressing a deep appreciation for her work ethic and priorities. Despite the lack of significant results during their time together, Piatti considered Sharapova his most successful player.

In addition to discussing Sharapova, Piatti praised Djokovic’s achievements and endorsed the 36-year-old’s potential to maintain dominance in tennis. He even expressed belief in Djokovic’s capability to achieve a calendar Grand Slam, provided he sustains his motivation.

As Djokovic competes for Serbia at the 2024 United Cup, Piatti remains optimistic about Djokovic’s physical and mental preparedness, highlighting the Serbian’s potential to accomplish remarkable feats in the sport.