Novak Djokovic has hired Viktor Troicki as his new coach ahead of Roland Garros.
The 38-year-old made a last-minute addition to his team as he resumes his search for a 25th Grand Slam.
Does Novak Djokovic’s appointment of Viktor Troicki make him a favourite to win Roland Garros?
A big move right before the French Open begins!
It won’t be the first time Troicki has coached Djokovic, having previously done so as Serbia’s Davis Cup and ATP Cup captain…
Novak Djokovic won 67% of his matches with Viktor Troicki as his captain
Troicki became Serbia’s Davis Cup and ATP Cup captain at the end of the 2020 season, and has since ‘coached’ Djokovic in 18 matches.
Djokovic won 12 of those 18 matches (67%), although that record is somewhat misleading.
Novak Djokovic’s Davis Cup record with Viktor Troicki (9-5)
| Match | Partner | Opponent(s) | Result | Score |
| 2021 Davis Cup – GS | – | Dennis Novak | WIN | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2021 Davis Cup – GS | – | Jan-Lennard Struff | WIN | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2021 Davis Cup – GS | Nikola Cacic | Kevin Krawietz/Tim Putz | LOSS | 6-7, 6-3, 6-7 |
| 2021 Davis Cup – QF | – | Alexander Bublik | WIN | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2021 Davis Cup – QF | Nikola Cacic | Andrey Golubev/Aleksandr Nedovyesov | WIN | 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 |
| 2021 Davis Cup – SF | – | Marin Cilic | WIN | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2021 Davis Cup – SF | Filip Krajinovic | Nikola Mektic/Mate Pavic | LOSS | 5-7, 1-6 |
| 2023 Davis Cup – GS | – | Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | WIN | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2023 Davis Cup – GS | Nikola Cacic | Tomas Machac/Adam Pavlasek | LOSS | 5-7, 7-6 [3-10] |
| 2023 Davis Cup – QF | – | Cameron Norrie | WIN | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2023 Davis Cup – SF | – | Jannik Sinner | LOSS | 2-6, 6-2, 5-7 |
| 2023 Davis Cup – SF | Miomir Kecmanovic | Jannik Sinner/Lorenzo Sonego | LOSS | 3-6, 4-6 |
| 2024 Davis Cup – WG1 | – | Ioannis Xilas | WIN | 6-0, 6-1 |
| 2024 Davis Cup – WG1 | Hamad Medjedovic | Petros Tsitsipas/Aristotelis Thanos | WIN | 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 |
Novak Djokovic’s ATP Cup record with Viktor Troicki (3-1)
| Match | Partner | Opponent(s) | Result | Score |
| 2021 ATP Cup – GS | – | Denis Shapovalov | WIN | 7-5, 7-5 |
| 2021 ATP Cup – GS | Filip Krajinovic | Denis Shapovalov/Milos Raonic | WIN | 7-5, 7-6 |
| 2021 ATP Cup – GS | – | Alexander Zverev | WIN | 6-7, 6-2, 7-5 |
| 2021 ATP Cup – GS | Nikola Cacic | Alexander Zverev/Jan-Lennard Struff | LOSS | 6-7, 7-5, [7-10] |
Djokovic won nine of his 10 singles matches (90%) with Troicki as captain, but won just three of eight doubles matches (38%).
Luckily for Djokovic, he’s hired Troicki to improve his singles game, not doubles!
They’ll be hoping to make a strong start together when the French Open begins.
Who will Novak Djokovic play at the French Open?
Djokovic will play Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of Roland Garros.
Mpetshi Perricard is the biggest server on tour and can cause problems for any player, no matter how many Grand Slams they’ve won.
The Serb has never played the Frenchman before, and will need to play at a much higher level than he produced in Rome if he is to advance to round two.
There, he could meet another Frenchman, Valentin Royer, or a qualifier.
Djokovic shouldn’t have too much trouble in that matchup, but the same can’t be said for his projected third-round tie.
He could play either Dino Prizmic, the man who beat him in Rome, or Brazilian wonderkid Joao Fonseca.
Djokovic will need to use all of his experience if he is to book his place in the last 16.
The tests only get tougher from then on, though, as Djokovic could play the two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud in the fourth round.
Ruud often plays his best tennis in Paris and is in strong form, reaching the final of the Italian Open last time out.
If Djokovic can beat Ruud, he might then play Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals.
Looking ahead, he might then face the daunting task of beating Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner in back-to-back matches to take the title.
It remains to be seen if Djokovic can go all the way and win this year’s French Open, but he won’t want to get ahead of himself.
He’ll now focus on his first-round match against Mpetshi Perricard.
