Novak Djokovic, longtime coach Marian Vajda part ways in "mutual split"

WATCH: Tennis Channel Live discusses Novak Djokovic’s vaccination status and uncertain future schedule.

The next time Novak Djokovic appears on the ATP Tour, it will be without longtime coach Marian Vajda, as Sport Klub reports the pair have once again parted ways.

Vajda was a notable absence from Djokovic’s camp at the start of the year in Australia, when the Serbian’s visa was cancelled due to his unvaccinated status, as well as in Dubai, where Djokovic finally kicked off his season with a run to the quarterfinals. In both instances, it was head coach Goran Ivanisevic who was present to support Djokovic.

According to Sport Klub’s Sasa Ozmo, who has followed Djokovic’s career closely, the split is a mutual decision and was agreed to during the ATP Finals in Turin at the end of last season. The 56-year-old coach had traveled to fewer tournaments since Ivanisevic was brought on in 2019, and had previously expressed a desire to spend more time with his family.

The Slovakian coach first joined Djokovic’s team in 2006, and has been a nearly permanent fixture ever since—although his role has evolved throughout the years. Between 2013 and 2016, Vajda took a step back as Boris Becker assumed the role of head coach, similar to the team setup under Ivanisevic.

It’s not the first time that Djokovic and Vajda have split: the former world No. 1 sacked Vajda and fitness specialist Gebhard Phil-Gritsch and physio Miljan Amanovic during his injury-stricken 2017 season. Vajda was back a year later, and the pair had worked together ever since, with the Slovakian being a part of all of Djokovic’s 20 Grand Slam victories.

Ivanisevic will reportedly continue on as Djokovic’s coach, and the rest of the team will also remain the same, including physios Ulises Badio and Amanovic and fitness coach Marco Panichi.

Vajda’s latest departure comes during a period of uncertainty for the former world No. 1, as Djokovic’s stance against COVID-19 vaccination has thrown his future schedule into doubt. His unvaccinated status has prevented him from traveling to many countries in 2022, including Australia, where he missed out on the ATP Cup and Australian Open, as well as the United States—which means he won’t be able to participate in back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 events Indian Wells and Miami.

Djokovic, who has only played three matches this year in Dubai, doubled down on that stance in an interview with BBC, stating: "Yes, that is the price that I'm willing to pay because the principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else.”

In the meantime, Djokovic has dropped to world No. 2 in the ATP rankings after his quarterfinal defeat in Dubai allowed Russia’s Daniil Medvedev to clinch the top spot.