Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Novak Djokovic Reveals Post-Retirement Plans at US Open 2025 – Hints at Coaching Joao Fonseca

Djokovic’s lighthearted US Open remark about coaching Fonseca highlights the teen's rise.

Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Novak Djokovic may still be chasing history, but he has already dropped a surprising hint about what comes next. The 38-year-old, who tied Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, suggested at the US Open that he could swap the baseline for the coaching box when he finally hangs up his racquet. “My plan after I retire from tennis is to coach [Joao] Fonseca,” Djokovic said to the press. “I’m going to be very expensive for him, so be ready.” To which Fonseca replied, “It’s an honor. Djokovic is an idol of the sport. He’s the best of all time. I like the team I like the team I have now, but let’s see what the future holds.”

The Serb’s comment came just after he advanced to the second round in New York, overcoming a spirited effort from 19-year-old Learner Tien despite nursing a nasty blister on his right toe. While Djokovic’s immediate focus remains on extending his Slam record, his words offered a glance into a future that could see him coaching one of tennis’s brightest prospects.

Novak Djokovic on his plans after he retires from tennis:

"My plan after I retire is to coach Fonseca. I’m going to be very expensive for him” 😭😭😭

(via @usopen)

pic.twitter.com/5yHmghRUT3
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 25, 2025

Djokovic’s Words Put Spotlight on Fonseca

Djokovic’s admiration for Joao Fonseca is hardly new, but the public acknowledgment of a possible coaching link adds weight to the buzz surrounding the Brazilian teenager. Ranked inside the top 150 by the end of 2024, Fonseca has stormed onto the scene with fearless tennis and remarkable composure for his age. His five-set upset of Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open earlier this year marked him as one to watch, and he backed it up by winning his maiden ATP title in Buenos Aires. That victory made him the 10th-youngest champion in ATP Tour history.

This summer has only fueled the hype. Fonseca added an ATP Challenger crown in Arizona and recently cruised past Miomir Kecmanovic in his US Open opener, setting up a second-round clash with Tomas Machac. For a teenager still in the early chapters of his career, the endorsement of Djokovic, the G.O.A.T., represents a possible passing of the torch.

Joao Fonseca is now 12-0 in sets in Grand Slam first rounds 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tJP4hgousE
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2025

If Djokovic does indeed step into coaching, he would follow a path not yet firmly taken by his Big Three peers. Roger Federer has stayed clear of the grind, while Rafael Nadal has limited himself to practice sessions with players like Alexander Zverev. Andy Murray’s brief collaboration with Djokovic earlier this year hinted at the possibilities, but the Serb officially taking Fonseca under his wing would be something altogether different.

For fans, the prospect is intriguing. Djokovic, with his unrivaled knowledge of Grand Slam battles, is shaping a teenager already capable of shaking up the sport. Whether said in jest or not, his remark at Flushing Meadows felt like the first glimpse of Novak Djokovic’s next chapter.

Mandatory Image Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Joao Fonseca

Novak Djokovic

US Open 2025

Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.