If various media reports are to be believed, Novak Djokovic is set to hire Radek Stepanek as his new coach heading into the 2018 season.

Stepanek, a former world No. 8 in singles and a winner of two doubles Grand Slam titles, recently called a time on his career.

The rumours started doing rounds after Djokovic said that his new coach has had an ‘enviable career’ despite not being No. 1 in the rankings.

“He’s a former player who has had an enviable career and has managed to get the maximum out of it in most cases,” the Serb had said.

“He was not No. 1 in the world, but he was smart enough and persistent. In addition, it is someone whose values ​​are similar to mine.”

Meanwhile, Djokovic, who hasn’t played since pulling out of the Wimbledon midway due to elbow injury, is set to make a comeback in the last week of December.

He will compete at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship – a three-day exhibition event in Abu Dhabi – alongside the likes of Stan Wawrinka, Rafa Nadal, Milos Raonic and Dominic Thiem among the others.