“Novak Djokovic’s decision will inevitably have an impact in coming weeks” Justine Henin believes it was ‘important’ for the Serb to split with Marian Vajda
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Novak Djokovic, Marian Vajda, Justine Henin
Novak Djokovic‘s decision to part ways with coach Marian Vajda who worked with him since 2006 apart from a one year break in 2016-17, shocked the world. Having already been going through a tough time as his decision to remain unvaccinated against Covid-19 has made him doubtful for tournaments, the split was highly unexpected.
While the two did not initially give the reason for the split saying it happened with mutual consent, Marian eventually gave a slight hint into what could have actually caused the rift between the most successful men’s tennis coach and the 20-time Grand Slam champion who is now the man with the most weeks spent as the World No. 1.
With a tight schedule amidst bio-bubbles in 2021, Djokovic had won 3 majors back to back in the season and Vajda expressed that Novak should not travel to Tokyo Olympics and instead rest and prepare for the US Open where he could script history as becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all 4 majors in a single calendar year. Novak however chose to play the singles and mixed doubles in the Olympics after 2 weeks of winning Wimbledon and unfortunately returned empty-handed from Tokyo.
This also caused him trouble in his left shoulder, an issue he had picked up during his title run in Wimbledon. As a result, he had to miss the entire month of August and was unable to win the 2021 US Open losing in the finals to Daniil Medvedev in straight-sets. The difference of opinions in this period is believed to have led the two part ways.
“Novak Djokovic is going through a difficult period. And in difficult times, you sometimes have to make important decisions, the Serb is no exception to the rule. I think if there was a time when it stuck, it was probably during the Olympics because his coach want him to go. This decision will inevitably have an impact in the coming weeks,” said 7-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 Justine Henin speaking on Eurosport Spain.
Goran Ivanisevic set to be the head coach for Novak Djokovic
Having spent a lot of time in the Djokovic camp, the only wildcard entrant to win the Men’s Singles at Wimbledon, Goran Ivanisevic is set to take over as the head coach for the Serbian although no official statement has been issued. However, given the situation Novak is in right now, he would surely want a trusted person as his coach and Ivanisevic is the right man having earlier led Marin Cilic to his only major, the 2014 US Open.
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Sarthak Shitole
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