Djokovic Could Appoint 'Big Name Coach' For 2025 Says Serbia's Davis Cup Captain
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Novak Djokovic might be preparing to appoint a high-profile name as his coach for the 2025 season, according to Serbian Davis Cup captain Viktor Troicki.
Djokovic, who Jim Courier thinks could win multiple more Grand Slams, has hired two big names as his coach in the past, and both appointments proved to be successful moves that helped him.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker worked with Djokovic from December 2013 until December 2016. The Serbian won six Grand Slam titles during that period, including a dominant 2015 season that saw him win three major crowns and the ATP Finals.
Becker also had a short-lived spell with Holger Rune for a few months until February of this year. They appeared to part on amicable terms, but the German agreed with Courier when he called Rune's game immature after a loss at the Paris Masters.
Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon winner, was confirmed as Djokovic's coach on June 30th, 2019. During an almost five-year spell together, the Croat helped him win 10 Grand Slams and two ATP Finals titles.
Their success meant many were shocked when Ivanisevic parted with Djokovic in March of this year. The 53-year-old stated afterward that he did not feel he could help the 24-time Grand Slam champion anymore. Djokovic still considers Ivanisevic a close family friend.
After a few months away from coaching, Elena Rybakina announced at the WTA Finals that she and Ivanisevic would begin working together during the off-season ahead of 2025.
Djokovic worked briefly with his friend and former doubles No. 1 Nenad Zimonjic during the clay-court season, but he has yet to appoint a full-time replacement for Ivanisevic since the Croat left his team.
However, that could be about to change. In an interview with Sport Klub, Troicki stated that Djokovic is already planning for the 2025 season, which could include him appointing a big name as his new coach.
"I am glad that Novak stated that he is 100 percent starting preparations for the new season. We saw each other briefly, and I even heard that something was brewing with a new coach, with a big name. I don’t know anything about that. That’s the gossip I heard yesterday, I didn’t hear from him."
Troicki was careful to point out that he had not been told anything directly, but his status as a friend of Djokovic's makes it unlikely that he would share anything that the seven-time Wimbledon champion did not want the public to know.
Serbia's Davis Cup captain thinks Djokovic is looking for someone he can share experiences with since he does not need a coach to help him with the technical aspects of his game.
"Honestly, I’m also guessing because I have no information and no idea who it could be. Again, he will be looking for a big name with whom he can share experiences."
"Of course, Novak is the best in history and the new coach will not teach him forehand or backhand, we are all aware of that, but he needs someone with whom he can share the experience."
"It is very important that he finds peace when he looks at him, he needs that. To get a comment at a given moment. He is really demanding about it and asks his box for information because he is a perfectionist."
