Novak Djokovic's ex-coach gives telling reaction after claims he'll reunite with Serb
Novak Djokovic's old coach has responded following the world No. 1's split with Goran Ivanisevic.
Novak Djokovic’s recent split with Goran Ivanisevic has ignited rumours over who the world No. 1 will hire as his new coach. One of the most popular theories has involved another old mentor, Marian Vajda. The Slovak spent 15 years with Djokovic and arguably knows his game better than anyone. But Vajda gave a telling reaction to Djokovic’s split with Ivanisevic, showing where he stands on a possible reunion.
Djokovic has been left without a coach following the end of his five-year partnership with Ivanisevic. They split shortly after the 36-year-old’s shock third-round exit in Indian Wells. Since then, the 24-time Major winner has been spotted training with former doubles No. 1 Nenad Zimonjic, who joined him in Monte Carlo.
But Djokovic has already made it clear that he hasn’t yet hired a full-time coach, describing Zimonjic as more of a “brother”. With a coaching spot still waiting to be filled, Andy Roddick has been among those speculating whether Djokovic will bring Vajda back. But Vajda doesn’t sound keen to get back on the road after a recent stint coaching Alex Molcan.
“The 15 years together with Djokovic were very intense, I spent a lot of energy, when I parted ways with him I tried to continue for a year with Alex Molcan. but I realised that something was missing. I was less motivated, I wanted to be closer to my family and I preferred to help young boys enter the world of tennis in Slovakia, in Bratislava,” Vajda told Ubitennis.
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He now works with the non-profit organisation Hrajme Tenis Slovensko and doesn’t miss life on tour, also citing the pressure and scrutiny that coaches face when their player loses. “But I always enjoy following Novak, I stay up to date with all the news about him and I continue watching him. But obviously I’m not as involved as I was before,” the 59-year-old added.
Vajda also revealed that no one told him about Djokovic and Ivanisevic’s split. He explained: “I didn’t expect that. I read about it in the newspapers like everyone else, so my opinion is based only on what I have read in the last few days.
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“I was quite surprised because in the last few years Novak has always been comfortable with him, he was totally part of the team. Maybe the pressure that coaches have to endure, which I mentioned before, has become too tiring for Ivanisevic as well. But I’m not sure about it.”
If Djokovic was keen to get Vajda back in his box, he likely would have kept his old coach in the loop when axing Ivanisevic. For now, the world No. 1 is doing fine without an official mentor, reaching the semi-final of the Monte-Carlo Masters for the first time in nine years.