Based on footage and pictures that have emerged,
Novak Djokovic appears to know who he will be working with for the remainder of the clay-court swing.
Djokovic and
Andy Murray initially planned to collaborate until at least the end of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships after the Serbian enjoyed their dynamic when together at the 2025 Australian Open in January.
There was further positivity when Djokovic reached the final of the 2025 Miami Open. Despite losing a tight final to Jakub Mensik, the 24-time Grand Slam champion seemed in a good place heading into the clay-court swing.
However, things have radically shifted since. Djokovic failed to win a match at the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters or the 2025 Madrid Open, and his level in the losses to Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi was alarmingly low.
Murray and Djokovic announced on Tuesday
that they had parted ways. Neither man gave a specific reason for the move, but they were respectful to each other in their respective statements, indicating there is no bad blood.
When a coach departs mid-season, players often replace them for at least the short term with someone they know well. That is the approach Djokovic has taken if the recent evidence does point to him having hired a new coach.
Djokovic appears to be working with Serbian Davis Cup Captain
Viktor Troicki. They have been friends for many years, dating back to when Troicki competed on the
ATP Tour during his career.
The tennis legend also has happy memories of Troicki being in his box. Djokovic won the Olympic gold medal he had craved for so many years last year at Roland Garros, with the Serbian Davis Cup captain one of those supporting him.
Troicki stepped in to help Djokovic last year when he did not have a permanent coach. Goran Ivanisevic left his role as the former ATP world No. 1's coach after an almost five-year successful collaboration.
Djokovic's friend would be fulfilling a similar duty after Murray's exit. At this early stage, it is entirely unknown whether a collaboration with Troicki could be long-term or permanent, but he looks set to help Djokovic, at least in the short term.
Predicting who else Djokovic could appoint is impossible. He has already had so-called "super coaches" in the form of Murray, Ivanisevic, Boris Becker, and Andre Agassi, showing a clear preference for those who can relate to playing on the biggest stages.
Djokovic's desire to work with people who can understand what he is going through on the court is entirely understandable since any specialist coach would feel intimidated telling the most successful player ever how to improve technically.
Regardless of who is in his corner, Djokovic needs to drastically improve on the level seen in Monte-Carlo and Madrid. That reality was heightened by Jannik Sinner's extraordinary 6-0, 6-1 crushing of Casper Ruud in the quarterfinal of the 2025 Italian Open.
Djokovic withdrew from the tournament in Rome but
accepted a wild card into next week's 2025 Geneva Open in an attempt to win matches before the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros begins.