After the clear victory obtained against Yoshihito Nishioka on his debut, Novak Djokovic will face Alex Molcan and part of his past in the second round of the Roland Garros 2022. The Serbian champion has in fact decided to interrupt his historic collaboration with Marian Vajda last March.
Nole explained: “What a trip together, my friend. 15 years! You have been by my side during the most important and memorable moments of my career. Together we have achieved the unattainable and I will be forever grateful for your friendship and dedication.
You will always be my family and I cannot thank you enough for everything.” Under Vajda’s leadership, Djokovic has won 20 Grand Slam titles and surpassed a conspicuous number of records. As a strange twist of fate, the Slovakian coach accepted Molcan’s request just a few weeks ago.
Djokovic will face the current world number 38 for the second time in his career, but on this occasion he will find his former coach on the enemy bench.
Djokovic challenges his past: he will face Vajda’s new player
“I wrote to Marian a few days ago, we also met here in Paris.
When I took a look at the scoreboard, it wasn’t easy, I have to admit. Molcan to me is simply an opponent like everyone else, but I have never found Marian in the opposite box. Honestly, I’m looking forward to playing this game.”
It will not be easy for Vajda to prepare a match against the player he has coached all his life. “It would be a great experience. I would be happy, a match like this could teach Alex a lot. He needs to play games like this.
I admit that he would be very strange, but in any case I am a professional,” said Vajda even before his new pupil beat Federico Coria in four sets in the first round. The match between Djokovic and Molcan will be played on Court Suzanne- Lenglen after the two women’s matches that will see Emma Raducanu and Maria Sakkari as protagonists.