Novak Djokovic continues to be one of tennis’s most talked-about figures as he approaches another chapter in his legendary career. The 38-year-old Serbian star has dominated the sport for over a decade, collecting 24 Grand Slam titles and establishing himself as one of the greatest players of all time.
With the US Open 2025 just around the corner, Djokovic finds himself looking for a new coach to help him in his quest for an unprecedented 25th major title, and he might have found the right candidate.
What Did Novak Djokovic Say About a Potential New Coach?
When Serbian reporters asked Djokovic whether a replacement for his former coach Dušan Vemić was on the horizon, the tennis legend’s response sparked immediate speculation.
“I’m smiling because it’s like you’ve read my mind, but I can’t tell you anything. I’ve been stirring the pot a little, talking… We’ll see, you’ll be informed,” Djokovic said with a grin.
But it was his follow-up comments that really sparked speculations. “We’ll see. These are just initial talks, and it’s more about the emotional aspect than a long-term partnership. That would mean a lot to me. I think you know who I’m talking about, but let’s not go into names now, so I don’t jump the gun. If it even happens… We’ve had some interesting conversations.”
🚨According to Serbian media, Novak Djokovic is very likely to hire Monica Seles as his next coach.
“I think you know who I’m talking about. I’m smiling because it’s like you’ve read my mind, but I can’t tell you anything. We’ll see, you’ll be informed.” pic.twitter.com/m7GcsnpXnv
— Danny (@DjokovicFan_) August 23, 2025
The emotional dimension he mentioned, combined with his cryptic “I think you know who I’m talking about” line, quickly led tennis insiders to one name: Monica Seles. “I have had Monica in my head when I was growing up in Serbia pretty much every single day, because Jelena Genčić, my tennis mother, as I like to call her, worked with Monica when she was young. So I was hearing a lot about Monica, ‘Monica this, Monica that, Monica eats this, Monica sleeps this much, Monica practices this way.’ So Monica was definitely one of my childhood idols and heroes, and I looked up to her very much,” Djokovic said during the Australian Open 2024.
Seles won 53 WTA Tour singles titles, including 9 Grand Slams, and spent 178 weeks as world No. 1. She dominated women’s tennis as a teenager, winning eight of her nine majors before age 20. Her career was tragically interrupted in 1993 when she was stabbed by an obsessed fan of rival Steffi Graf.
After returning to tennis in 1995, Seles claimed one more major at the 1996 Australian Open before retiring in 2008. While she has largely avoided formal coaching roles, her relationship with Djokovic has been more of a mentor figure over the years.
What Does Djokovic’s Current Team and Ambitions Look Like?
Djokovic’s current coaching setup includes Dušan Vemić and Boris Bošnjaković, who are sharing the role temporarily. Vemić previously worked with Djokovic from 2011-2013 and again in 2016, while Bošnjaković has been his assistant coach and performance analyst since 2023. The team also includes hitting partner Carlos Gomez Herrera, physiotherapist Claudio Zimaglia, and fitness coach Dalibor Širola.
This coaching shuffle comes as Djokovic pursues what would be a historic 25th Grand Slam title. The Serbian legend already holds the men’s record with 24 major championships and has made it clear that Grand Slams are his main focus. “I don’t actually have any schedule other than Slams, to be honest,” Djokovic stated recently. He has reached the semifinals of all three majors in 2025 but fell short each time.
Djokovic’s remarkable career includes 100 ATP singles titles, a record 40 Masters titles, and seven year-end championships. He has spent a record 428 weeks as world No. 1 and is the only man to achieve a triple Career Grand Slam. At 38, he recently admitted that family time has become increasingly important, even revealing concerns about potentially missing his daughter Tara’s birthday on September 2 if he advances deep into the US Open.
The tennis great has also been honored by his sponsor, Lacoste, with a limited-edition collection featuring a “GOAT” logo instead of their traditional crocodile, celebrating his pursuit of greatness. As Djokovic begins his US Open campaign against Learner Tien, all eyes will be on whether these “interesting conversations” with Seles develop into something more concrete.
