Novak Djokovic announces new head coach ahead of French Open: Who is Viktor Troicki?

Just a few days before the French Open, Novak Djokovic announced the appointment of his longtime friend and compatriot Viktor Troicki as the new head coach. The announcement, confirmed on Wednesday via Djokovic’s Instagram account, ends a season without a formal head coach. high ranking split from Andy Murray in May 2025.

Sharing a picture from training at Roland Garros, the world No. 4 captioned the post: “Welcome to my friend, teammate and now coach. Viktor Troicki.”

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who turns 39 on Friday. Djokovic’s 2026 season has been heavily disrupted as he chases a historic 25th major title to move one clear of Margaret Court’s all-time record.

After the Australian Open final in Januarywhere he lost to Carlos Alcaraz, the Serbian legend endured a campaign interrupted by injuries. Djokovic is managing a nagging shoulder problem and has severely limited preparation on clay, so Troicki’s immediate task is to rehabilitate quickly and build confidence. Screenshot from Instagram

WHO IS TROICKI?

Troicki, 40, is a deeply familiar face in the Djokovic camp and a celebrated figure in Serbian tennis. The former world number 12’s tenacity and fierce competitiveness defined Troicki’s playing career. After retirement, he transitioned seamlessly into coaching and took over the reins as captain of the Serbian Davis Cup team. While this marks the official introduction of Troicki as a solo head coach, the duo share a rich history of successful collaborations both on and off the field.

As players, they famously anchored the Serbian national team side-by-side for more than a decade, culminating in a historic triumph that secured the nation’s first-ever Davis Cup title in 2010. More recently, Troicki demonstrated his coaching credentials in Djokovic’s corner during the ultimate high-stakes environment. During the summer of 2024, he was deeply integrated into the coaching staff and guided Djokovic to his the long-awaited Olympic gold medal right here at Roland Garros.

This emotional triumph on the Parisian clay forms the exact blueprint the duo will be hoping to repeat as they prepare for the grueling fortnight ahead. The decision to appoint a close countryman reflects a distinct shift in strategy from Djokovic’s previous alliance with Murray. While the partnership with his former British rival brought immense tactical intrigue, Troicki’s selection rests heavily on seamless communication, absolute trust and a shared tennis vocabulary shaped by a lifelong friendship.

With Roland Garros set to begin on Sunday, the tennis world will be watching closely to see if the familiar comfort of Troicki’s presence can spark another legendary run for the evergreen Serb.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

21 May 2026 1:30 PM IST