{"id":1962431,"date":"2026-05-29T19:00:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T16:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1962431"},"modified":"2026-05-29T19:00:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T16:00:37","slug":"novak-djokovics-practice-partner-reveals-what-hes-really-like-behind-the-scenes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1962431","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic\u2019s practice partner reveals what he\u2019s really like behind the scenes"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Novak Djokovic\u2019s practice partner reveals what he\u2019s really like behind the scenes<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/liam-mcmillen\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Liam McMillen                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"29 May 2026 8:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"29 May 2026 8:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1780081237\"><br \/>\n                            29 May 2026 8:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img 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            <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Novak Djokovic\u2019s practice partner reveals what he\u2019s really like behind the scenes\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Novak-Djokovic-looks-on-during-his-match-1-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Novak Djokovic looks on during his match\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Novak Djokovic looks on during his match                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Novak Djokovic has become one of the clear favourites to win Roland Garros, following Jannik Sinner\u2019s shock defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round of the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic had already been buoyed by Carlos Alcaraz\u2019s withdrawal from the Grand Slam and now he is the second seed at the event, behind only Alexander Zverev.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic has already beaten Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Valentin Royer at Roland Garros so far, although he has dropped sets in both matches.<\/p>\n<p>American doubles specialist Christian Harrison has been utilised as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Djokovic\u2019s<\/a> hitting partner at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/roland-garros\">Roland Garros<\/a> this year and the pair have worked with each other sporadically throughout the past two seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Harrison has lifted the lid on what it\u2019s like to play with the 24-time Grand Slam champion as he looks to make yet more history at this year\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/French-Open\">French Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>More Novak Djokovic news<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/french-open\/roland-garros-toni-nadal-dismisses-novak-djokovic-title-chances-names-surprise-real-contender\">French Open: \u2018I don\u2019t see Novak Djokovic as the winner,\u2019 says Toni Nadal<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/john-mcenroe-novak-djokovic-verdict-after-jannik-sinner-french-open-exit\">John McEnroe issues Novak Djokovic verdict after Jannik Sinner\u2019s shock French Open exit<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In an interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tntsports.co.uk\/tennis\/roland-garros\/2026\/novak-djokovic-christian-harrison-hitting-partner-french-open_sto23304302\/story.shtml\">TNT Sports<\/a>, Harrison revealed how the partnership with one of the most iconic players in tennis history came about.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the beginning of last year, one of my buddies who knew him just said \u2018Novak\u2019s looking to hit\u2019, I was in Brisbane at the start of the year, and then he kept asking to hit at tournaments and we kind of got a bit of a relationship with practising,\u201d said Harrison.<\/p>\n<p>The American said that Djokovic is just as focused on the practice court as fans see him when he is challenging for the biggest prizes in tennis.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe obviously likes things done a certain way on court, and I am just happy that I am able to do that, and that he likes practising and hitting together and feels comfortable to be in high-stress environments at tournaments and stuff, and wants to keep hitting,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis coach will reach out and then I hit with him whenever it suits. There\u2019s a high level of focus even in warm-ups or practices that can help replicate the intensity and the focus that you need. Obviously, in doubles the matches are short and points can be quite short, so you feel like you can\u2019t lose focus at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic has limited his schedule in 2026, so it\u2019s likely Harrison does not hit with the Serbian as much as he once did.<\/p>\n<p>The 24-time Grand Slam champion has only played four tournaments so far this year, and his form certainly peaked at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/australian-open\">Australian Open<\/a> at the turn of the year.<\/p>\n<p>He reached the final of the Melbourne event and his run included an exceptional five-set victory against Sinner in the semi-finals of the Grand Slam.<\/p>\n<p>He was eventually defeated by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> in four sets in the final, but he more than proved that he still has what it takes to win another major.<\/p>\n<p>His results have dipped since the Australian Open, and he was knocked out of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/indian-wells\">Indian Wells<\/a> in the round of 16 and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/italian-open\">Italian Open<\/a> in the round of 64.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Novak Djokovic\u2019s practice partner reveals what he\u2019s really like behind the scenes Liam McMillen 29 May 2026 8:00 PM Novak Djokovic looks on during his match Novak Djokovic has become one of the clear favourites to win Roland Garros, following Jannik Sinner\u2019s shock defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round of the tournament. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1962431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1962431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1962431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1962431\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1962431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1962431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1962431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}