Djokovic forced to eat own words and makes huge announcement

Novak Djokovic has been forced to eat his own words after returning to the French Open a year after admitting he may not be back. It comes after the former world No.1 also hired childhood friend and former professional player Viktor Troicki as his coach in a bid to win a record 25th Grand Slam singles title.

The world No.4 has not won a major since the 2023 US Open, but impressed at this year's first Grand Slam in Melbourne, where he reached the Australian Open final - beating Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals before losing to Carlos Alcaraz. Nevertheless, Djokovic has played only a few matches since his run Down Under, having struggled with injury.

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The 38-year-old, who turns 39 on Friday, played four matches at Indian Wells in March before an injury-enforced absence kept him out off the tour until Rome in May. Djokovic's return in Italy did not go to plan as he lost to qualifier Dino Prizmic in his only match.

It means the Serb will go into Roland Garros with just one clay court match under his belt this year. The 24-time Slam winner has semi-final points to defend in Paris having lost to Sinner in the last four a year ago.

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And Djokovic's participation at this year's clay court slam was far from a certainty 12 months ago. The three-time former French Open winner was asked last year if his defeat to Sinner was the final match of his career at Roland Garros.

He said: "This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don't know. That's why I was a bit more emotional even in the end.

"But if this was the farewell match of the Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd."

Djokovic has been coached by Boris Bosnjakovic for over a year, but has now chosen to bring in former world No.12 Troicki to his team. Announcing the news on Instagram, he said: "Welcome my friend, teammate and now coach… Viktor Troicki."

Carlos Alcaraz's withdrawal from Roland Garros has pushed Djokovic up to the No.3 seed in Paris, but he has neverthless received a tough draw.

The Serb has been given a blockbuster first-round clash against big-serving French giant Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Djokovic could then run into highly-rated young Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in round three.

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