Slovak Tennis Coach Marián Vajda Reflects on Changing Era of Professional Tennis

Marián Vajda, the longtime coach of tennis champion Novak Djokovic, shared his perspective on how professional tennis has evolved during his decades-long career. The Slovak coach experienced Roland Garros first as a player in 1991, reaching the third round where he lost in five sets to Argentina's Franco Davín. He later coached Dominik Hrbatý during his 1999 semifinal loss to Andre Agassi at the French Open, and guided Djokovic through numerous epic battles with Rafael Nadal, including championship victories in 2016 and 2021. Vajda expressed nostalgia for the intensity of past rivalries, particularly the Djokovic-Nadal matches, saying that when those two played, he wouldn't even leave to use the bathroom. The veteran coach suggested that something is missing from today's tennis compared to those legendary encounters that captivated audiences worldwide.