Novak Djokovic has jokingly hinted towards coaching Joao Fonseca once he has retired from professional tennis.
The 38-year-old continues to defy his age across the ATP Tour with the record 24-time Grand Slam champion still competing at the top of men’s singles events.
Djokovic is through to the second round of this year’s US Open thanks to a comfortable 6-1 7-6 [7-3] 6-2 victory against Learner Tien.
Should he go all the way, the Serbian will win a fifth title in New York and go level with Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors.
Whilst Djokovic is showing little sign of calling it quits, he dropped a hint over his retirement after losing to Jannik Sinner at the French Open.
But when he does decide to hang up his racket, he claimed he’d be keen to coach one of tennis’ up and coming prospects – a response which was met with laughter.
When asked by the US Open about his retirement plans, he said: “My plans after I retire from tennis is to coach Fonseca.
“I’m going to be very expensive for him, so be ready.”
Who is Joao Fonseca?
Aged 19, Fonseca is the current no. 1 men’s singles player from Brazil and won his first title earlier this year at the Argentina Open.
He used to play on the clay courts of the Rio de Janeiro Country Club as a youngster with his mother Roberta.
Speaking to the ATP in 2024, his father Christiano said: “When he was two, we were like, ‘This boy is different.'”
Fonseca made his first appearance on the tour as a Rio Open wildcard entry in February 2023.
Since then, the teenager has made appearances in the main draws at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.
Now at the US Open, he faces Miomir Kecmanovic for the place in the second round.
Guilherme Teixeira is his current coach, although it could be Djokovic at some point in the future following his comments.
The 100-time title winner has worked under notable former players himself throughout his glittering career.
German legend Boris Becker coached him from 2013 to 2016, before a short partnership with fellow former world no. 1 Andre Agassi.
Goran Ivanisevic, who won Wimbledon in 2001, worked in Djokovic’s coaching team for just under five years before their split in 2024.
His later made the surprise appointment of his former rival Andy Murray towards the end of the year.
Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open under the Brit’s guidance, and the Miami Open final before they separated.