Novak Djokovic and Marian Vajda reunited for the Belgrade Open trophy ceremony (Image: Tennis TV)

Novak Djokovic’s former coach has opened up on an emotional conversation they had years after parting ways.

Marian Vajda worked with the 24-time Grand Slam champion for the majority of his career before they ultimately split in 2022.

They still maintain a good relationship. And Vajda admitted both men were in tears when they spoke over the summer.

Djokovic and Vajda had the most successful partnership in tennis history, winning 20 Grand Slam titles together. But the Slovakian coach finally left his team for the second and final time in March 2022.

The duo have remained close friends ever since and were recently reunited at the Belgrade Open, where they took part in the trophy ceremony. While it was their first meet-up in a while, Vajda revealed he’d spoken to Djokovic after his biggest triumph earlier this year.

The 37-year-old finally got his hands on the one title that had always evaded him – an Olympic gold medal. Before this year, Djokovic’s best showing at the Olympics was a bronze medal run in 2008.

Since then, he’d either finished in fourth place or been dumped out in the first round. But he ended his agonising wait for a gold medal in Paris by beating Carlos Alcaraz in two tight sets.

Novak Djokovic was in tears discussing his Olympic gold medal win with his old coach (Image: Getty)

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Although Vajda had long since left the Djokovic team, he rushed to congratulate his former protege. “We often exchange text messages and talk,” the 59-year-old told Alo.

“We talked after the Olympic Games. I was in tears, and he was in tears.

“Everyone was in tears because he won the Olympic gold, and that was the crown of his work, of all his successes, and it was really extraordinary.”

While it was a long time coming for Djokovic, Vajda wasn’t surprised to see him pick up an Olympic gold medal. Recalling his first meetings with the Serb, he’d always seen his drive and determination.

Djokovic’s ex-coach continued: “Of course, when I met him, he was very young and had nothing but confidence. He told me, ‘Marian, I’m going to be tennis No. 1.’

“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 No. 1 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.”

Outside of his Olympics triumph, things haven’t gone to plan for Djokovic this year. He split with his head coach Goran Ivanisevic in March and has not lifted any other titles.

The Serb will finish the season outside of the world’s top five after skipping the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals despite being the reigning champion of both tournaments.