Novak Djokovic has added a familiar face to his team ahead of his bid to clinch a historic 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open.
The former world No.1 has appointed Viktor Troicki as his coach, who is a year older than him. Throughout his career, Djokovic has played both against and alongside his latest mentor. On the ATP Tour, he won 13 out of their 14 meetings, and together they were part of the Serbian team that won the 2010 Davis Cup. This was the first and only time the country has won the team event.
“Welcome my friend, teammate and now coach… Viktor Troicki ,” Djokovic wrote on Instagram.
Former world No.12 Troicki retired from tennis in 2021 after a 15-year career. He won three ATP titles and earned more than $9M in prize money. In recent years, he has served as his country’s Davis Cup captain. He has also coached Hamad Medjedovic and Miomir Kecmanovic prior to his latest role.
Djokovic heads into the French Open with no wins on clay this season. Something that hasn’t happened to him since 2005. After withdrawing from the Miami Open due to a right arm injury, he also missed events in Monte Carlo and Madrid. He returned to action in Rome but suffered a shock loss to qualifier Dino Prižmić, who came back from a set down to win.
“It’s not an ideal preparation, to be honest,” Djokovic said after his loss on May 8th. “I don’t recall the last time I had in the last couple of years a preparation where I didn’t have any kind of physical issues or health issues coming into the tournament. There’s always something. Kind of a new reality that I have to deal with. It is frustrating. At the same time it’s my decision to still perform in that kind of state and conditions. It is what it is.”
Djokovic is a three-time champion at the French Open, with his last triumph being in 2023. Should he triumph in Paris this year, he will become the most decorated Grand Slam singles champion in history (male or female).
