Novak Djokovic “longed to win gold” and was main reason behind failed bid for Golden Slam, says ex-coach

Marian Vajda, who by the side of Novak Djokovic throughout his ultimately failed bid to win all 4 Grand Slam singles title and the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, explains where he lays the blame for not achieving a goal that Djokovic ‘longed’ for.

Marian Vajda has ended his 15 year relationship with Novak Djokoivic which saw his pupil become world No.1 and win the vast majority of his 20 Grand Slam singles titles. But it was the Serb’s attempt to win the Tokyo Olympics that Vajda blames for his failure to secure the US Open which would have been the final trophy in a historic 2021 Grand slam

Vajda was speaking to Slovakian news outlet Aktuality when he detailed his thoughts on why that season didn’t end with quite the glory many had expected.

“I was not in favour of his participation in Tokyo. He ran out of strength in the US Open finals, Olympics drained him mentally and physically. I understood his goal, he longed to win gold for Serbia.”

Vajda went on to say, “I remain Djokovic’s biggest fan, I will keep my fingers crossed for him and I hope that the world will return to a more normal life”

Djokovic ended up losing to Alexander Zverev in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics semi final then soon afterwards he lost an emotional US Open final to Daniil Medvedev.

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