Nick Kyrgios at centre of huge coaching claim from Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has offered to coach Nick Kyrgios and said the enigmatic Australian would win give grand slams under his tutelage. Djokovic has returned to action at the Srpska Open this week in Bosnia and Herzegovina having been eliminated in his second match in Monte Carlo.

The World No.1 is battling an elbow injury and it nearly cost him in his first match after he lost the first set to French qualifier Luca Van Assche, but recovered to win 6-7, 6-3, 6-2.

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After the match, Djokovic was in good spirits having come through the battle and avoided a shock defeat. And in his post-match press conference even reignited his bromance with Aussie Kyrgios amid a surprise claim.

Kyrgios hasn't played tennis this year after enjoying his best season in 2022. Last year, the Australian won the Washington Open and the Australian Open doubles title, before losing to Djokovic in the final at Wimbledon.

Although Kyrgios hasn't played a competitive match this year having injured himself at the end of the season. Kyrgios originally stated he wanted to take part at Roland Garros for the first time in years, but his knee surgery has derailed the plans.

But Djokovic hasn't forgotten about the bromance the pair struck up since the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Speaking after the match, Djokovic said he wouldn't mind training Kyrgios and that it could pay off in a big way.

"I would love to coach Nick Kygrios. He Would win five grand slams with me, but it would not come cheap," he joked. Kyrgios is one of the very few players that holds a winning record against Djokovic having won two matches and lost one.

The single loss might have been the hardest to take considering it was in the final of Wimbledon.

Kyrgios hasn't given a timeline on his return to tennis with his participation in Roland Garros looking more and more unlikely. The Australia could be waiting to return on grass, which has seen him perform the best in 2022.

The Aussie hasn't played the French Open since 2017 due to his hatred of clay, but revealed last year that he'll make a return to Roland Garros because his girlfriend wants to visit Paris.

Novak Djokovic addresses injury scare after opening win

Djokovic entered the Srpska Open under an injury cloud after admitting he was struggling with a persistent elbow injury following his loss to Lorenzo Musetti in Monte Carlo. "My elbow is not in an ideal shape but good enough to be ready for the first match," Djokovic told reporters ahead of the tournament.

"One of the good things in tennis is that you get new opportunity to prove your worth every week and take a step forward. I've turned over a new leaf."

However, having defeated Van Assche in a three-set battle, the 34-year-old admitted he was feeling better after the more than two hour battle. "The elbow is feeling fine, it held up over two hours in conditions that are not suitable for joints, elbow in my case," he said in his post-match press conference.

Djokovic said he is hungry for more victories, but he did take a second to label the court one of the slowest surfaces he had played on during his career. Djokovic is seeking his 93rd title and 1,050th tour-level win this week - if he reaches the final - with only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Ivan Lendl reaching this milestone.

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