'He chose Goran': Novak Djokovic's ex-coach speaks on 'amicable split'
Marian Vajda, the now-former coach of controversial tennis star Novak Djokovic has said that their split was amicable, and had purely come down to numbers.
News of the pair's split rocked the tennis world in March, coming after they had shared one of the most successful player-coach relationships in the sport's history.
"Novak and me are still friends, it was an amicable split," Vajda told reporters during a press conference in Bratislava.
Vadja said that the break-up was a combination of several reasons.
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"We have been together for a really long time and his decisions showed that he wanted to focus on grand slam tournaments," he said.
"That is why he might think that it is not ideal to have so many people in his team. He wanted to reduce it and have only one coach," he said.
Former Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic remains as a key part of Djokovic's team.
Novak Djokovic trains as ex-coach Marian Vajda watches on. Getty
"I don't know for sure, because I never asked him, but I assume from my analysis of his tournament schedule, that he wanted to reduce his team, and he chose Goran Ivanisevic," Vajda added.
The Slovakian had previously said he was sick of the travel load that coaching required, but never suggested just coaching Djokovic at major tournaments.
"It did not make sense for a coach to coach him only on grand slams, because a coach needs a long-term plan," he said.
The 57-year-old parted ways with Djokovic in March, ending a 15-year relationship.
"During my time with Novak, I have been lucky to watch him transform into the player that he is today," he said in a statement at the time.
"I will look back on our time together with immense pride and am so very thankful for the success we have achieved. I remain his biggest support on and off the court and look forward to new challenges."
Vadja had coached Djokovic from 2006 to 2017, before re-uniting again a year later.
He is now coaching countryman and world No.47 Alex Molcan.
"I did not tell Novak [about coaching Molcan], but I did tell Goran, so I am sure Novak knows," Vajda said.
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