Novak Djokovic goes back to ground zero by hiring former coach Marian Vajda
Novak Djokovic is still searching for answers after firing Andre Agassi and Radek Stepanek. He’s now training with former coach Marian Vajda.
Novak Djokovic has continued on a downward spiral ever since completing the career Slam with the French Open title in 2016. But what followed has left tennis fans completely baffled as to what’s going on with the 12-time Grand Slam champion.
He’s gone out of major tournaments in the first round, including the Rio Olympics and this year’s Australian Open, at a time when he was expected to return injury-free and more confident than ever, perhaps inspired by Roger Federer’s and Rafael Nadal’s renaissance success. But the Djokovic storyline has been vastly different.
The dip in form seems to have even confused the tennis legend. After his losses in the second half of 2016, he ended his coaching relationship with Boris Becker, with whom he had achieved so much, and followed up by cleaning house and getting rid of just about anyone in his entourage who had been there when he collected his haul of titles, including coach Marian Vajda along with his other trainers.
Djokovic turned 30 last year and decided on yet more change, insisting that his training and tennis focus needed to be retooled in order to accommodate his growing family priorities and his aging body. What transpired was perhaps an inspired choice to select legend Andre Agassi as head coach. But after almost a year of working together, it’s clear they didn’t connect at all — both players releasing snippy statements after it dissolved. After mentioning letting go Radek Stepanek under friendlier terms, Djokovic didn’t have much to say about working with Agassi.
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“The private relationship with Stepanek was and will remain great, and Novak has enjoyed working with him and learning from him,” a statement said on his web site. “He remains grateful and appreciative of all the support he has received from Radek during the last period.”
Agassi?
“The cooperation between Novak and Andre Agassi has also ended.”
Ouch.
With the series of debilitating losses this year, Djokovic has hit rock bottom. He has turned to a trusted mentor and coach, someone who he will listen to. Djokovic knows he needs to build back up from ground zero. Vajda helped him to develop into the legend he became before; maybe he can do it again.
Clay season begins in a few days and Djokovic is scheduled to play the first big tournament, the Monte Carlo Masters 1000. He’s won it before. Can Vajda help him win it again?