"I haven't had too many great results. That's why, you know, I've felt like I needed some changes and I needed to approach things maybe a little bit differently," he said. "It was definitely not an easy decision.
"But we all felt like we needed a change. We all felt like we needed to enter a new chapter. It was a mutual decision."
Djokovic, who had also brought on six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker from 2013 to 2016, indicated he would be looking for someone new.
"I also know that I'll not stay by myself without a tennis coach for too long," Djokovic said. "I assume it is going to be someone that has been through similar experiences like I have. Not too many people in the past of tennis have managed to get to that stage and play at that level, so I'll see.
"I'm thinking slowly and thoroughly about it. I don't want to take things with a rush."
By making big changes, Djokovic said he is showing that he is not backing away from his struggles.
"I'm trying to confront them and trying to embrace them. In the process, I'm trying to get better as a person and as a tennis player," the 29-year-old said. "I'm sure difficult paths lead to beautiful destinations, so I'm sticking with that."
According to the ATP, Djokovic is in Madrid with another physiotherapist who has been working with him for several months. His younger brother, Marko, is also with him and Marko's coach, Pepe Imaz, is "part of the team" though not in an official capacity. A former ATP player from Spain, Imaz owns an academy and uses "Love and Peace" to describe his approach to the game.
Djokovic has had dips in his career before, taking three years to win a second major following the 2008 Australian Open, and also dropped multiple Slam finals between 2012 and 2013. But the Serb described his recent dip as the biggest he has experienced.
"Yes, my career was going in the right direction, upwards mostly, ever since I entered the professional waters. So this for the first time, probably, since the beginning... I'm experiencing the other direction," he said. "Of course it makes you question yourself, your game, whether you're doing things right or wrong. But again, I'm feeling much better today than I was a few months ago."
Djokovic is the defending champion in Madrid this week.
