Novak Djokovic is going through one of the most critical moments of his career. His decision not to get vaccinated is depriving him of playing the most important tournaments on the circuit and without being able to have a clear agenda for his next appointments. Overtaken by Rafa Nadal as the top Grand Slam winner, deprived of number one by Daniil Medvedev, the Serbian has now surprised everyone by separating himself from his coach for the last 15 years, the Slovakian Marjan Vajda, who took turns with Goran Ivanisevic at the time accompanying him in tournaments.
Marjan Vajda had been accompanying Novak Djokovic since 2006. The Slovenian coach is one of the main people responsible for the success of the Serb, winner of 20 Grand Slams and a record number of weeks at the top of the world ranking. The Belgrade coach announced on Tuesday that he would stop accompanying Nole to focus on his family, thus ending more than 15 years working together. Vajda had not traveled to Australia or Dubai to accompany the Serbian in the first two tournaments in which he intended to participate, only managing to do so in the last one, where it was not a requirement to be vaccinated.
“What a trip, Marian. 15 years! You have been by my side in the most important and memorable moments. We have achieved the unattainable and I will always be grateful for your friendship and dedication. You will always be my family and I can’t thank you enough for everything “, was the message that Djokovic dedicated to Vajda, through his social networks. Vajda’s departure from the team comes at one of the most complicated moments in Nole’s career, as a result of his decision not to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, a necessary requirement to cross borders or play certain tournaments.
“It’s a price I’m willing to pay,” acknowledged Djokovic, about his willingness to sacrifice part of his career to stay true to his decision not to receive the vaccine. A cost that is already paying since the start of the year. His non-authorization to play the Australian Open caused him to lose 2,000 points in the ranking, a circumstance that favored Daniil Medvedev to snatch number one in the ranking from him. In addition, Nadal’s victory in Melbourne also made him fall behind in the pulse for being the tennis player with the most Grand Slams of the season.
No clear agenda for this year
Marian Vajda ‘s departure comes at a time when Djokovic has lost his number one spot and is also unclear where he can play this season. For now, he has only been able to take to the court in Dubai, where he was surprised in his third match against Vesely, a player ranked below the top -100 in the ranking.
“I need match rhythm,” acknowledged the Serbian, who is still registered in Indian Wells and Miami , but where he is not expected since he could not enter the United States without having received the complete vaccination schedule against COVID- 19. The Serbian does not defend points this time, although Medvedev could widen the gap with him.
The circumstance arises that in the coming weeks, Djokovic will promptly regain number one – the Russian will see the 250 points he got last year at the ATP 250 Marseille 2021 subtracted -, so the Serbian will be placed with 100 more than the Muscovite, although it will be a distance that can be easily overcome as soon as he adds games in the two American tournaments.
For his part, Djokovic today has little certainty about where he will be able to play again, with the consequent loss of pace that it may cause him, not to mention the large amount of income that he is deprived of by not playing tournaments. of the circuit.
