Ex-coach Vajda talks about the breakup

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the essentials in brief

• After 15 successful years, Novak Djokovic and Marian Vajda end their collaboration.
• The Slovak is now training his compatriot Alex Molcan (ATP 527).

At the beginning of the year, Novak Djokovic’s entry Zoff in Australia made headlines for weeks. Because the tennis star does not want to vaccinate himself against Corona, he is not allowed to take part in the Australian Open.

The result: sponsors turn away from the Serbs – without going into detail about the reasons. And in March the separation of Djokovic and his long-time coach Marian Vajda will also be announced. The two are said to have made this decision in the autumn of the previous year.

Vajda: «Djokovic wanted to downsize his team»

Now the Slovak is talking about the separation for the first time. And explains: “It was a combination of several reasons.” Djokovic’s focus was primarily on the Grand Slams, so he wanted to downsize the team. “He just wanted a coach.”

And this decision was made in favor of Goran Ivanisevic, who is still looking after the Serbs. However, Vajda clearly states that he and Djokovic are still friends. “It was a friendly separation,” he explains to the Serbian newspaper “Sports Aktuality”.

New task for the star trainer

Marian Vajda never gets bored. The Slovakian has taken his compatriot Alex Molcan under his wing.

The number 527 in the tennis rankings is the best player in Slovakia – and should now benefit from the star coach. Finally, “Nole” won 20 Grand Slam titles with his longtime coach.

“I had many offers, but I wanted to help a Slovak player,” Vajda continued. “It gave me energy.”

Will Novak Djokovic win the tournament in Madrid?

“Nole” himself is currently in action at the ATP tournament in Madrid. And benefited there on Thursday from Andy Murray’s cancellation due to illness. With that, the Serb moves into the quarter-finals without a fight.