Djokovic hits reset button, splits from entire team including coach Vajda
By Ricky Dimon
First it was Boris Becker. Now it’s everyone.
Novak Djokovic continued to overhaul his team–to the extent that he no longer has one–when he announced on Friday that he has ended his long-term partnership with coach Marian Vajda, fitness guru Gebhard Phil Gritsch, and physiotherapist Miljan Amanovic. The team thoroughly dissected Djokovic’s recent results and reached a conclusion to part ways following a lengthy discussion.
“I am forever grateful to Marian, GG, and Miljan for decade of friendship, professionalism and commitment to my career goals,” Djokovic said. “Without their support I couldn’t have achieved these professional heights. I know they completely dedicated themselves and their lives to help me achieve my dreams and they were always my driving force and wind in my back. It was not an easy decision, but we all felt that we need a change.
“I am very grateful and proud of our relationship and unbreakable bond that we built through years of mutual love, respect and understanding. They are my family and that will never change.”
“Time spent with Novak feels like a whole lifetime,” Vajda commented. “We were part of many of his incredible achievements, we were living and breathing for his dreams. I gave everything I could as a coach and I am very proud of our results. We arrived to the point where we all realized we need new energy in the team. Novak can do so much more and I am sure he will. I am convinced that he will remain at the top of the tennis for many years and that he will bring a lot of joy to all the tennis fans around the world with his victories. Of course, we will continue consulting each other, seeing each other and hanging out together because after all, we are a family.”
“It was a great privilege to have worked with Novak for exactly eight years to the day,” Gritsch added. “It is the dream of every coach to be able to work with an athlete as gifted, professional and committed as Novak.”
“Novak is my best friend and my brother,” Amanovic explained. “I spent more time with him than with my family in the past 10 years. Nothing will change between us as our lives are interconnected in so many ways. I will forever be here for him and I look forward to seeing him rise to his full potential again.”
Djokovic, a 12-time Grand Slam champion who reigned at the top of the rankings for several seasons, was overtaken by Andy Murray last fall. The Serb has struggled in 2017, with a 7-4 record in his last four events since capturing the Doha title. Surprise defeats have come at the hands of Denis Istomin, David Goffin, and Nick Kyrgios (twice).
“I feel like this is a new chapter in my life,” he said. “My career was always on the upward path and this time I’m experiencing how it is when the path takes you in a different direction. I want to find a way to come back to the top stronger and more resilient.”
Topics: 10sballs.com, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Sports, Tennis News