Novak Djokovic 'would love to coach Nick Kyrgios' - 'He'd win five Slams with me, but it wouldn't come cheap'

Novak Djokovic has said he «would love to coach Nick Kyrgios» and added that «he would win five Slams with me, but it would not come cheap» when he was asked to choose a player at ATP Banja Luka. Djokovic battled from a set down to beat 18-year-old Luca Van Assche in three tough sets, 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2, in Bosnia on Wednesday as he attempts to find some form and rhythm ahead of the second Grand Slam of the season at Roland-Garros.

Ad Van Assche took the upper hand by winning the opening set via a tie-break, but Djokovic managed to avoid a second successive defeat in an entertaining two-hour, 38-minute clash as he eventually found a way past the doughty teenager. ATP Banja LukaDjokovic avoids upset with comeback win on 'slowest court' he's played on15 HOURS AGO Djokovic had released a fitness update ahead of the tournament, raising concerns over his right elbow that he had surgery on five years ago, but was deemed fit enough to kick-start his Banja Luka Open campaign against Van Assche.

The hard-fought victory came after his shock Monte Carlo Masters exit following a 4-6 7-5 6-4 defeat to Lorenzo Musetti, and the 35-year-old was determined to get back on track with his first professional visit to Bosnia. Djokovic, having avoided back-to-back defeats in ATP events for the first time in a year with the victory, was asked to pick which player on tour he would most like to coach — and he did not appear to have much hesitation.

«I would love to coach Nick Kyrgios,» Djokovic said when the question was posed. He added with a smile: «He would win five Slams with me, but it would not come cheap!» Kyrgios picked up on the quotes via social media and responded via his Instagram Stories.