Djokovic Pairs with Troicki for Roland-Garros
Novak Djokovic will work with longtime friend Viktor Troicki as his coach in Paris.
Djokovic, who will enter Roland-Garros with zero clay court wins in 2026, is seen by many as the main challenger to Jannik Sinner in Paris.
The Serbian, a three-time Roland-Garros champion, got good news on Thursday when he was drawn into the bottom half of the draw, which means he won’t see Sinner until the final – if he can get there.
“Welcome my friend, teammate and now coach… Viktor Troicki,” Djokovic shared on Instagram.
Troicki has known the Serbian star since their formative years. Troicki, a former world No. 12, retired in 2021 with a trio of ATP titles.
Djokovic, who is seeded third in Paris, and Alexander Zverev, seeded second, are prime candidates to challenge Sinner. Remember, Nole took out the Italian in this year’s Australian Open semifinals, before losing in the final to Carlos Alcaraz.
With Alcaraz out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon with a wrist injury, this could be Djokovic’s last – and perhaps final – chance to claim that elusive 25th major title.
Djokovic said his primary concern was healing his body rather than Alcaraz’s absence, but believes if he can reach the Roland Garros second week healthy, then he has a “very good chance” to take the title for the first time since 2023.
“Whether [Alcaraz’s absence] changes my approach to this tournament, I don’t think it does significantly change, to be honest, because I have been through challenging times with my body in the last, you know, six to eight months,” Djokovic told the media at Roland Garros. “So that was my primary focus or concern, if I may say, not much really thinking about would I have better chances or not with Carlos being here or not being here.
“Because I feel like if I’m healthy and I’m able to maintain that level of freshness throughout the tournament, that obviously will not be the same at the beginning like it is in the, towards the end of the tournament, but if I’m able to somehow maintain that level of freshness and progress, and then I feel like I have always a very good chance.
“I have proven that in Australia this year where I was close to win another slam. So, you know, I always have that belief in me when I’m on the court.”
Djokovic and Troicki have also shared success in Davis Cup competition. As Serbia’s team captain, Troicki has coached Djokovic in a total of 18 matches, including throughout Serbia’s runs to the Davis Cup Finals semifinals in 2021 and 2023, per Tennis.com.
They were famously together as peers in 2010, when Troicki clinched Serbia’s first Davis Cup title, an event that helped trigger one of Djokovic’s best season in 2011. The whole team got crew cuts together after Team Serbia’s momentous victory.
After a productive collaboration with former world No. 1 Goran Ivanisevic, Djokovic paired up with former world No. 1 and three-time major champion Andy Murray in 2025. The partnership ended after six months without a title.
Djokovic has reached two Slam finals since winning his last major title, reaching the Wimbledon final in 2024 and the Australian Open final in 2026, losing to Carlos Alcaraz both times.
Djokovic’s quest for the title begins with a first-round clash with hard-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
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