Novak Djokovic appoints new coach at last minute ahead of French Open battle with Jannik Sinner

Novak Djokovic has made a major change to his team just days before the French Open, confirming that former Serbia Davis Cup teammate Viktor Troicki will join his camp as coach ahead of another pursuit of Grand Slam history.The decision arrives during one of the most uncertain stretches of Djokovic’s recent career, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion entering Roland-Garros after an unusually disrupted clay-court season and lingering questions surrounding both his fitness and match sharpness.Djokovic, who turns 39 on Friday, announced the appointment on Instagram with a short but significant message: “Welcome my friend, teammate and now coach… Viktor Troicki.”The Serbian star had been without a permanent coach since the end of his collaboration with Andy Murray last season, making the timing of Troicki’s arrival particularly important with the year’s second Grand Slam about to begin.The appointment is rooted in a relationship that stretches back decades.Djokovic and Troicki grew up together within Serbian tennis and later became central figures in one of the country’s greatest sporting achievements when Serbia defeated France to win the 2010 Davis Cup.Troicki, a former world No. 12 and three-time ATP title winner, has also served as Serbia’s Davis Cup captain since 2021 and already worked closely with Djokovic during the 2024 Olympic campaign in Paris, where Djokovic finally secured the Olympic gold medal that had long eluded him.Reports linking Troicki to the role intensified earlier this week after he was spotted alongside Djokovic during a Roland-Garros practice session on Tuesday, with Djokovic training alongside Alexander Zverev.Unlike some of Djokovic’s previous coaching arrangements built around technical reinvention or tactical restructuring, this partnership appears grounded more heavily in familiarity, trust and long-term understanding, particularly at a stage of Djokovic’s career where physical management and mental preparation have become increasingly important.Although Djokovic remains one of the favourites whenever he enters a Grand Slam tournament, his buildup to Roland-Garros has been unusually limited.The Serbian has played only three tournaments throughout 2026 and arrives in Paris having competed in just one clay-court match this season.That match ended in a surprising defeat to Dino Prizmic in the round of 64 at the Italian Open in Rome, a result that immediately intensified concerns about Djokovic’s physical condition and readiness for a best-of-five-set Grand Slam campaign.The defeat also contrasted sharply with the momentum currently surrounding world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who captured the Italian Open title and has now won six consecutive ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, including five already during 2026. Djokovic will enter the French Open as the third seed behind Sinner and Zverev following Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the tournament because of a wrist injury.Even with the disrupted buildup, however, Djokovic’s history at Roland-Garros ensures he remains a serious contender.This will be his 22nd appearance at the French Open, where he has already won three titles, and he now returns chasing an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles crown.