Novak Djokovic announcement branded 'strange' as US Open star drops bombshell

Viktor Troicki believes Novak Djokovic hiring Monica Seles as his next coach is "a little strange." Djokovic has had many coaches over his glittering career, from Goran Ivanisevic, Dusan Vemic, and even more recently ex-rival Andy Murray.

However, it recently came to light that the tennis icon has been considering a temporary partnership with former world No. 1 Seles, who retired in 2008 after a foot injury derailed her game five years previously. The 51-year-old, who has won the French Open, US Open and Australian Open, has a long-term admirer in Djokovic due to their shared Serbian nationality. He told Sportal just how much the appointment would mean to him, saying ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year: "I don't know, we'll see. These are some initial conversations, it's more on the emotional side [rather] than I want something so long term.

"It's more something that would mean a lot to me. I think it's clear who it is, but come on, I'm not going to say the name out loud, so I don't do it too soon, if it ever comes to that. We had interesting conversations."

However, another of his compatriots, Troicki, who is currently mentoring Miomir Kecmanovic, has been left baffled by these rumours. Addressing the gossip surrounding Djokovic and Seles, the ex-tennis pro said: "I heard that from you, I don't know.

"It's a little strange to me. I don't know how good she has been in tennis in recent years - a decade actually. But she is a great champion, a great name, we will see if it will come true."

Djokovic was open about his changing coaching needs given that his tennis career is beginning to wind down in his veteran years. The 24-time major champ added: "I don't have anyone in mind for the long term, nor am I honestly looking for one.

"I'm not at the stage of my career where I feel like I need to have someone 24/7 and 12 months a year because my schedule has also been revised a lot, reduced, and it's hard to ask someone to commit to being your coach 24/7 while I play once every two months.

"Those are, at least for our sport, tricky things to hire a coach and in that context I don't feel I need it. But I would like to have some big names next to me for one or two tournaments, like Andy Murray was. I'm open to it. We'll see, maybe it will be, maybe not."

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Meanwhile, Djokovic beat Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6, 6-2 to reach the second round at Flushing Meadows. He will next take on Zachary Svajda on Wednesday in his quest for the elusive, record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.