“It will hurt him for a long time”: Djokovic coach unpacks

The world number one was “certainly hit mentally hard by this. This will hurt him for a long time and it will be difficult for him to get it out of his head,” Slovakian Marian Vajda told the newspaper in an interview published in Bratislava on Friday Sport. But he knows the 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner “well enough to know: Novak is strong, unshakable and he has not yet spoken his last word in tennis,” emphasized Vajda. He sharply criticized the Australian government and international media. He called the decision against the 34-year-old Djokovic a “political process”. The situation in Australia is “totally sick and unfair, a direct result of the country’s long isolation. Australia is now paying the price for its policy of isolation and has such high infection rates despite its strict vaccination policy. But above all, it was the media that influenced public opinion so negatively against Novak.” Great compassion The Slovakian has looked after Djokovic with a short break since 2006 and alternates with Goran Ivanisevic in accompanying him at the tournament. That's why Vajda wasn't there in Melbourne. Asked about his first feelings when he received the news of Djokovic's expulsion, Vajda replied: “Shock, pain, great emotion. I don't know how I would have endured it psychologically if I had been there myself. Even at home in Bratislava I couldn’t sleep because I was stunned that something like this was possible.” Djokovic, who was not vaccinated against the coronavirus, had to leave Australia because he had failed in his appeal against the cancellation of his visa in the Federal Court. He came because he wanted to take part in the Australian Open with a medical exemption. However, his visa was canceled upon entry.

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“It will hurt him for a long time”: Djokovic coach unpacks

According to his coach, the expulsion from Australia took a toll on Serbian tennis professional Novak Djokovic mentally.

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