Who could Djokovic's next coach be? Roddick expects him to go for 'known entity'

Novak Djokovic’s 2024 season has not gone as was perhaps expected.

From defeat in the semi-finals of the Australian Open to a shock third-round exit at Indian Wells, Djokovic has not yet rediscovered the level that saw him win three Grand Slam titles in 2023.

Djokovic’s absence from Miami, where he hasn’t played since 2019, means he will enter the clay season having played just two matches since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals on January 26.

A surprise split with Ivanisevic only adds to the noise around Djokovic’s start to the season.

Ivanisevic was a key member of Djokovic’s team during one of the most dominant spells of his career and was credited with helping improve his serve considerably.

The question now is who’s next – will it be a new face entirely or will Djokovic turn to someone he has worked with before?

Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick thinks it is likely Djokovic will look to a “known entity” such as former coach Marian Vajda.

“It seems like he always kind of ends back up with Vajda when something like this happens. That’s happened a couple of times,” said Roddick on Tennis Channel.

“It’d be hard for me to think someone 37 years old goes with an entirely new scenario, goes through the vetting process, gets to know someone.

“You’re on a shortish timeline going into Roland-Garros, so my instinct is that he goes back into something that is known, that is familiar. I’d be surprised if six to eight weeks out from Roland-Garros, he just starts an entirely new relationship. But I’ve been wrong before, I’ll be wrong again, but I’d be surprised if it was someone completely new.”

Another former Djokovic coach, Boris Becker, is out of work after ending his relationship with Holger Rune earlier this year.

The unlikely idea of Roger Federer coaching one of his greatest rivals has also been playfully raised.

“Maybe it could be a good collab [collaboration],” said former Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig with a smile on Tennis Channel.

Having skipped Miami, it’s full steam ahead into the clay season for Djokovic.

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are also set to play.

Djokovic is a two-time winner in Monte Carlo but has not had much success there in recent years, winning just two matches in his last three appearances.

Last year he was beaten by Lorenzo Musetti in the third round.

“No titles this year, that’s not something I’m used to,” said Djokovic after his shock loss to world No. 123 Luca Nardi. “I was starting the season most of my career with a Grand Slam win or Dubai win or any other tournament.

“But it’s fine, it’s part of the sport and you just have to accept it. Some you win, some you lose. Hopefully, I will win some more. I’ll still keep going.”

Djokovic’s schedule after Monte Carlo has not been confirmed.

The last few years he has played clay events in Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, but they are not on the ATP Tour calendar this season.

After the Monte Carlo Masters there are tournaments in Barcelona, Munich and Bucharest, before the back-to-back Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Rome.

Djokovic has only played Madrid once in the last four years but Rome has been a constant on his calendar, playing the tournament every year since 2007. Among Masters 1000 events, Djokovic has only won Paris (seven) more times than Rome (six).

Djokovic has spent 418 weeks as world No. 1, a record that will not be broken anytime soon.

His place at the top could soon be threatened though by world No. 2 Alcaraz, who can close to 280 points behind if he wins the Miami Open.

If Alcaraz does win the title in Miami then the No. 1 ranking will be on the line in Monte Carlo.

Alcaraz and Djokovic both missed the tournament last year so will have the same amount of points to gain.

Jannik Sinner could also be close behind.

The world No. 3 will start the clay season 1,115 points behind Djokovic if he wins the Miami title.

Sinner has just 585 points to defend across the whole clay season, most of which are in Monte Carlo (360) where he made the semis last year.