By Sulaimon Jamiu
World’s number 2 tennis player, Novak Djokovic has parted ways with his long-time coach Marian Vajda for a second time, ending a 15-year association with the man who has helped the Serb to his 20 Grand Slams.
The announcement made by Djokovic came just days after he conceded the world No 1 ranking to Daniil Medvedev and in the middle of a uproarious phase for him with the Australian Open deportation in January. But those in the know say that the termination of the association is unrelated.
However, Novak Djokovic released a statement on his website saying that him and Vajda mutually agreed to end the partnership at the end of the ATP Finals last year.
“Marian has been by my side during the most important and memorable moments in my career,” Djokovic said in the statement.
“Together we have achieved some incredible things and I am very grateful for his friendship and dedication over the last 15 years. While he might be leaving the professional team he will always be family and I can’t thank him enough for all he has done.”
The Slovakian coach has been in Djokovic’s camp since the dexterous tennis player’s teenage days and the two had briefly split in 2017.
Vajda was conspicuous by his absence when Djokovic and his team arrived in Melbourne for the Australian Open, as well as at the Dubai Open where Djokovic lost in the quarterfinals.
In addition to Vajda, Djokovic has had other men in his box, including Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Radek Stepanek. He now has Goran Ivanisevic, who has been the head coach of the team since 2019. He will continue to work with the Serb. Vajda had travelled to fewer tournaments since Ivanisevic was brought on, and had previously expressed a desire to spend more time with his family.
Djokovic sacked Vajda and fitness specialist Gebhard Phil-Gritsch and physio Miljan Amanovic during his injury-stricken 2017 season, but they reunited in 2018.
