Novak Djokovic’s former coach Marian Vajda has reflected that he “could never have imagined” the Serbian would become the greatest tennis player of all time.
The Slovakian also shared an anecdote from his time working with a young Djokovic that illustrates his former charge’s remarkable confidence and ambition.
Vajda coached Djokovic from 2006 until 2022 — with a brief break in 2017 and 2018 — helping the tennis legend win 20 of his 24 Grand Slams and 85 of his 99 career singles titles.
The 59-year-old is the most successful coach in the history of men’s tennis by measure of major singles titles. Vajda won the ATP Coach of the Year award in 2018.
Djokovic holds the records for the most Grand Slams, the most Masters 1000 titles (40), the most ATP Finals titles (seven), while he has finished the most seasons as the ATP world No 1 (eight) and spent a record 428 weeks on top of the rankings.
The 37-year-old became only man to win every ‘big title’ in singles by claiming the gold medal at the Paris Olympics in August.
Vajda spoke with Radio Television of Serbia after he met with Djokovic at the ATP 250 event in Belgrade last week.
The legendary coach looked back on his remarkably successful collaboration with the former world No 1, which started when Djokovic was a teenager.
“Of course, all this is much more than a number. I look at my cooperation with Novak as a process,” Vajda said.
“Of course, when I met him, he was very young and had nothing but confidence. He told me: ‘Maran, I’m going to be tennis number one.’
“When we started working, I thought it couldn’t get any better. He is the best player who could have deserved it, and it was just amazing.
“As a coach, I saw how he was progressing, how he was training better, how he was developing, but for him the goal was to be tennis number one and win all those tournaments, Grand Slam titles.
“It’s been an incredible journey, but when I look back on it now and see all those numbers, it really is an incredible achievement.
“I could never have imagined that he would win so many titles and tournaments and be the best in the history of tennis.”
Vajda played professionally between 1984 and 1994, reaching a career-high ATP ranking of world No 34 in 1987.
