Daniil Medvedev's 'half-joking' coaching offer to Djokovic revealed a serious one!

Intrigue surfaced in the tennis world regarding Novak Djokovic's potential future coaching plans, sparked by comments from Daniil Medvedev. Medvedev, at 29 years old and once ATP World No. 1, lightheartedly suggested he would "pay for Novak to be my coach" once the Serbian icon retires from the sport. Medvedev holds significant respect for Djokovic's abilities, having faced the 37-year-old legend numerous times (Djokovic leads their head-to-head 10-5).

Djokovic, widely considered The Greatest of All Time by many and a member of the illustrious "Big Three," continues to compete at the highest level, boasting a record 24 Grand Slam titles. Medvedev acknowledged Djokovic's "incredible prowess and tennis knowledge" as reasons for his interest.

While making the "offer," Medvedev expressed a realistic view, admitting it's unlikely Djokovic would immediately transition into coaching full-time but might offer advice to close friends on tour. Medvedev stated he would be happy for such an opportunity himself, but clarified it could only happen after Djokovic ends his playing career to avoid conflicts and sharing secrets while they are still competitors. Medvedev jokingly predicted Djokovic's retirement might be "in five years."

Medvedev wasn't the only one thinking of this idea

Adding a significant twist to the discussion, Medvedev then claimed he had "heard in Australia" that Novak Djokovic had already made a post-retirement commitment to another tour rival, Alexander Zverev. According to Medvedev's report, Zverev stated that Djokovic "promised him that he would work with him for a year when he finished his career."

When these comments were relayed to Novak Djokovic during the Madrid Open, Serbian responded positively to Medvedev's idea. Djokovic found the proposal "very flattering" and appreciated Medvedev's belief in his ability to help. Expressing genuine affection for the Russian, Djokovic noted their "great relationship off the court." He stated he would "always like to work with him if he could” considering roles as an "advisor or mentor" and even potentially "becoming a member of his team" one day.

However, Djokovic maintained that any such coaching role is contingent on his own retirement, the timing of which remains uncertain. He reiterated, "First, I have to end my career in order to think about that offer," concluding firmly that as long as he is playing, discussions about a price for coaching are premature – "That's why there is no price" currently.

The exchange provided a peek into potential future collaborations on the tour, highlighting both Medvedev's admiration for Djokovic and the intriguing possibility of a post-retirement coaching role for the legendary player, perhaps even one already lined up with a competitor.