Novak Djokovic phones French Open star after fury over coaching split | Tennis | Sport

Novak Djokovic revealed he’s been in contact with Miomir Kecmanovic as he addressed the recent hiring of Viktor Troicki following his French Open win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Djokovic confirmed ahead of the French Open that his fellow countryman Troicki had joined his coaching staff, as he had been without a coach since parting ways with Andy Murray in 2025.

Troicki had been coaching Kecmanovic since 2025, and before that, the Serbian junior Hamad Medjedovic from 2022 to 2024. And Kecmanovic was left less than impressed by the way Troicki dropped him to start working with Djokovic at Roland Garros.

Following his first-round French Open win over Fabian Marozsan on Sunday, Kecmanovic said: “To tell you the truth, that decision confused me, not to say – shocked me!

“On Sunday I won the Challenger, on Monday I was informed that he was ending cooperation with me, and on Wednesday we were supposed to travel to Paris. He was already on Tuesday afternoon at Chatriere with Novak.

“Everything is clear here, I don’t have to add much, I’m very disappointed, but my God, I have Ogi (Ognjen Jovanovic) with whom I’m doing well, there’s good energy, he believes in me – he’s the head coach now.”

But when asked about Kecmanovic’s comments, Djokovic suggested he spoke to his compatriot on the phone about it to clear the air. He said: “We had communication, I didn’t see him live. I would like to congratulate him on his victory now, as well as the one in the tournament before (the challenger in Valencia).

“I contacted him, we talked and I told him from my perspective what happened and how it is. How he accepted it and what is between him and Victor – I will not go into that. That’s all I can say.”

Asked why he wanted to work with Troicki, Djokovic replied: “It’s very simple. Viktor knows me as a friend – we’ve known each other since the age of eight or nine.

“We know each other on the court, I played against him, I played doubles with him, we played the Davis Cup, won it together.

“He was the selector and coach when we won the gold medal here. We travelled together for so many years. He is definitely one of the closest people I have in my life.

“I didn’t want to bring some unknown people, I don’t have the patience for that. I wanted to bring someone who knows me well and who can certainly contribute with his experience. That’s the biggest reason.”

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Djokovic made more history at the French Open on Sunday night, becoming the first player to appear in his 82nd Grand Slam tournament two days after his 39th birthday, breaking the record he shared with Roger Federer for the most appearances in men’s singles at the majors.

It is the Serbian’s 22nd successive year playing at Roland Garros and not since 2010 had he lost a set in the opening round, but he had to fight from behind to see off Perricard 5-7 7-5 6-1 6-4.

“I want to congratulate Giovanni for a great match,” he said afterwards. “It’s not many times in my career I’ve faced a serve like that.

“In the first set I had no chance. The second set it changed a little for me. In a match like that you have to stay concentrated and wait for an opportunity, It’s a little complicated but I found my best game, you could say, and my return at the right moment.”