MADRID — After dropping his coaching staff last Friday, Novak Djokovic started the Madrid Open this week as the defending champion, and under intense scrutiny.
Would he recover from his recent slump and work through, on his own, the “shock therapy” that he gave as his reason for parting ways with his longtime coach, Marian Vajda, and most of his entourage? Would Djokovic instead announce the hiring of a new coach?
Most of these questions remain unanswered. All that Djokovic has revealed about his post-Madrid plans is that he will most likely appoint a new coach soon — probably around the start of the French Open later this month.