Pepe Imaz’s departure could mark another renaissance in Novak’s career

On the 15th of July, Novak Djokovic won his 4th Wimbledon title, capturing his 13th slam (overtaking Roy Emerson, with who he shared the joint 4th place for most number of slams) and completing a comeback which swung from unexpected to long overdue, depending on who you ask.

Soon after, details of his reunion with his coach since 2006, Marian Vajda came out in the open when Vajda spoke to a Slovak journalist in some striking amount of detail about how exactly the reunion happened, with some extensive pondering from the former Slovak World Number 34.

The excerpt of everything

In an in-depth interview with Slovak journalist Stefan Bugan, Vajda spoke about the changes that have taken place in the Djokovic camp, providing some interesting insights into how the comeback exactly took place. Follow the entire thread below for a detailed account.

Djokovic has nothing to look back to

The years in which Pepe Imaz’s influence increased, Novak’s form dipped considerably. Good runs in tournaments were just that and never materialised to anything more. While Djokovic remained enamoured and awestruck by Imaz and his lifestyles, principles, ideologies, everyone around him rang the alarm bells. Rumours of Boris Becker and him wanting out because of Imaz’s increasing influence, along with a blunt statement from him lamenting about his reduced practice hours. Several parties didn’t like the involvement; Vajda, his fans, Becker and perhaps many others.

However, Djokovic has nothing to look back to. If Vajda’s statement is correct, Imaz’s involvement stopped during the month of May. For Djokovic to come back in a span of just two months is astonishing. While the hunger to win might’ve been a humongous motivator, to get someone back to prime fitness and win slams is no joke. Outlasting Nadal in a 5 hour 15-minute marathon stretching to 10-8 in the decider is perhaps the biggest feat one can achieve, even if it’s on grass.

Final words

For months, perhaps even years, fans and pundits alike wondered whether Djokovic would ever return to his winning ways. There was a certain sadness in seeing a man play in a court with no fire within, his eyes complicit to an unknown fate of sluggish misery, watching balls sail by, balls he could’ve easily gotten to in his earlier days.

I was never really a huge Djokovic fan, but the comeback he’s managed to pull off is extremely special and perhaps as impressive as Roger Federer’s. As we watch this renaissance of the Big Three, I hope to see one last hurrah for all of them (including Andy Murray as well) before they retire and pass the mantle to the younger players.