Andy Murray is an audacious hire – he is the X-factor coach Novak Djokovic craves

Scot will join Serb’s team to help him prepare for the Australian Open

Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email
Andy Murray has shocked the world of tennis by teaming up with his former nemesis, Novak Djokovic, in an off-season coaching partnership leading into January’s Australian Open.
While Murray has previously evinced an interest in coaching, few expected him to make the move at this early stage of his post-retirement career. Over the three months since he played his last professional match at the Paris Olympics, losing in the quarter-finals alongside doubles partner Dan Evans, he has mostly been working on lowering his golf handicap.
But it seems as though the opportunity to work with Djokovic, the most successful male player in the history of the sport, was too good to resist. 
While this is unlikely to be a lengthy arrangement, given that Djokovic will turn 38 in May, it should be beneficial to both parties.
Murray will gain a unique insight into the way that Djokovic keeps himself at the top of the sport, despite the encroaching years, while Djokovic gets to freshen up his backroom team with an exciting new signing and thus boost his own motivation heading into the new season.
“I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open,” said Murray. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.”
Djokovic and Murray were born a fortnight apart in 1987, and spent much of their careers going head-to-head. Two of Murray’s three major titles came courtesy of victories over Djokovic in the final, but he also lost eight times to his greatest rival at the slams, and ended up with a 11-25 head-to-head record.
Djokovic was particularly ruthless in their five meetings at the Australian Open, winning all of them, which will give a certain piquancy to Murray’s new role as his key advisor going into that tournament. It will be a fascinating dynamic, especially as Djokovic has recently been outstripped at the majors by the two outstanding players of the new generation: world No1 Jannik Sinner and reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
“I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach,” said Djokovic. “Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.”
He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW
In March, Djokovic had parted company with another former Wimbledon champion, Goran Ivanisevic. During their six years together, Djokovic won a remarkable 12 majors, and Ivanisevic’s contribution helped him refine his serve and his volleys.
Yet the split reflected a slight downturn in results, by Djokovic’s otherworldly standards. Although he achieved a lifelong goal by winning singles gold at the Paris Olympics – an achievement that he immediately dubbed the greatest of his career – 2024 was the first season since 2005 when he had not landed a single tournament on the ATP Tour. As a result, his ranking has slipped to No7, which could leave him on course to face some significant names earlier than usual when the Australian Open draw is made.
On his most recent Instagram post, which was made on July 27, Murray had posted four photographs of himself and Djokovic during various stages of their tennis lives, with the caption “Rivals, doubles partners, friends and lovers?” To explain the final word, he added “See slide 3”, in which the two men were pictured almost nose to nose during a post-match meeting at the net.
A post shared by Andy Murray (@andymurray)
Their doubles interaction dates back to 2006, when they teamed up at the Australian Open as a pair of hugely promising but as yet unproven 18-year-olds. Two years later, Djokovic would open his grand-slam account by winning the singles title in sensational style.
Nobody would have guessed then that Djokovic would still rank among the world’s leading players almost two decades later, nor that he would overtake all previous records to land 24 major titles.
But in the audacity and ingeniousness of this latest hiring, we can see Djokovic’s questing mind at work. He is constantly looking for the X-factor that will give him an advantage over the field, and Murray’s input could supply that extra dimension.
In a video message posted on Instagram, Djokovic said “We played each other since we were boys. Twenty-five years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game-changers, risk-takers, history-makers. I thought our story might be over. Turns out, it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach Andy Murray.”
Copy link
twitter
facebook
whatsapp
email