Djokovic is currently competing in the Monte Carlo Masters

World number two Novak Djokovic has dropped former US Open finalist Todd Martin from his coaching team.

The 22-year-old will now work solely with long-time trainer Marian Vajda.

Martin, 39, joined Djokovic's coaching set-up last August but communication problems have led to the Serb rethinking the make-up of his team.

"You're always going to have problems like that when you work with two coaches," said Djokovic. "They did not understand each other very well."

The 2008 Australian Open champion added that there were specific difficulties when Martin worked on his serve.

"He tried to change [my serve], but it was all too complicated in the end and now I'm back to the old one," said Djokovic.

606: DEBATE It was as much the cultural gulf which exists between American and Europeans as anything technical noleisthebest

"Todd is a fantastic person who has so much experience and he shared everything with me but it just did not work out in the end and we separated with no hard feelings.

"I'm full-time with Marian again and hopefully we can have a lot of success."

Djokovic and Martin teamed up just before last year's US Open, where the Serb was beaten in the semi-finals by Roger Federer 6-7 (3-7) 5-7 5-7.

In the only Grand Slam of 2010 so far, the Australian Open, he exited at the quarter-final stage following a 6-7 (8-10) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 3-6 1-6 defeat to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Djokovic is currently competing at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he reached the final last year before losing 6-3 2-6 6-1 to Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

After receiving a bye in the first round of this year's tournament, the top-seeded Djokovic will play the winner of an all-French tie between Florent Serra and Stephane Robert in round two.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version