Coach Marian Vajda says he and Novak Djokovic remain friends and their split will never affect the relationship they built over the years. After Dubai, Djokovic announced his decision to split with coach Vajda. Now, in an interview with Tennis Majors, Vajda reveals the decision to end partnership came after the 2021 ATP Finals.
Two monfhs after the split with Djokovic, Vajda has a new job as he is now the new coach of top-ranked Slovak Alex Molcan. “Novak and me are still friends, it was an amicable split. I told Goran (Ivanisevic, Djokovic’s coach) that we will practice together in Paris.
I did not tell Novak (about working with Molcan), but I did tell Goran, so I am sure Novak knows,” Vajda told Tennis Majors.
Vajda suggests Djokovic only wanted one coach
Vajda said Djokovic’s action indicated that at this stage of his career he was ready to solely focus on Grand Slams.
Also, Vajda thinks Djokovic is happy with what Goran Ivanisevic brings to the table. “It was a combination of various reasons: we have been together for a really long time and his decisions showed that he wanted to focus on Grand Slam tournaments – that is why he might think that it is not ideal to have so many people in his team.
He wanted to reduce it and have only one coach,” Vajda explained: “I don’t know for sure, because I never asked him, but I assume from my analysis of his tournament schedule, that he wanted to reduce his team, and he chose Goran Ivanisevic.
It did not make sense for a coach to coach him only him on Grand Slams, because a coach needs along-term plan.” Vajda was an integral part of Djokovic’s team for 15 years. After the Serbia Open final in Belgrade, Djokovic held a special ceremony on the court and Vajda was one of the guests.
