ELEVEN months after winning the French Open and capping the greatest Grand Slam run in modern tennis history, Novak Djokovic hit the reset button on his career, firing longtime coach Marian Vajda and the rest of his team after a stunning career free fall that’s seen him suffer the biggest upsets of his career, lose his spot at No. 1 after having the largest lead in ATP rankings history, and seemingly lose all the confidence and mental fortitude that helped make him the
Djokovic made the announcement on his website, stating that he needed a “spark” and that the parting with his coach, trainer, and physiotherapist was mutual.
“Without their support I couldn’t have achieved these professional heights,” Djokovic said in a statement.
“I know they gave their all and their life to assist me reach my goals, and they were always my driving force and the wind in my back.
“It was a difficult decision, but we all agreed that we needed a change. I am grateful and proud of our partnership and the strong tie we formed over years of mutual love, respect, and understanding.
It’s an uncommon case of change being made simply because it’s the proper thing to do.
Vajda has been with Djokovic since he was a furious, listless youngster, known as much for his mid-match outbursts and post-match theatrics as for his surprising Australian Open win in 2008, at the age of 20. No one younger has won a major championship since.
He’s witnessed Djokovic’s three seasons of failure to return to the pinnacle; his breakout in 2011, which began with a 41-match winning run and finished with three Slam victories; and his post-2011 slump, in which he lost five of six major finals.
It continued with Boris Becker’s arrival in 2013 and through the magical 2015-16 season, when Djokovic won four consecutive Grand Slam titles, had nearly double the ranking points of No. 2 Andy Murray, completed the career Slam, and was as dominant in majors as Roger Federer was in his prime.
