The recently retired Andy Murray He is going to team up with his old rival Novak Djokovic as his coach, with plans to prepare for—and work together during—the Australian Open in January.
It was surprising news before the tennis break began, a partnership of two of the sport’s most successful and popular players, who are sometimes referred to as members of a so-called Big Four that also included Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic has 24 Grand Slam titles and has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other player in tennis history. Murray won three major trophies and two Olympic singles gold medals and finished 2016 at the top of the ATP rankings. He retired as a player after the Paris Olympics in August.
Both men are 37 years old and were born a week apart in May 1987. They began facing each other as juniors and ended up facing each other 36 times as professionals, with Djokovic maintaining a 25-11 lead.
“We’ve faced each other since we were kids — 25 years of being rivals, pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us innovators, risk takers, creators of history,” Djokovic published on social networks along with photos and videos of some of his matches. “I thought our story might be over. Turns out it has a final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest rivals to enter my corner. Welcome aboard, coach —Andy Murray.”
Djokovic’s 2024 season is now over, and it didn’t live up to his usual high standards. He did not win a Grand Slam trophy; However, his only title was significant for him: the gold medal for Serbia in singles at the Paris Olympics.
Djokovic has been without a full-time coach since parting ways with Goran Ivanisevic in March.
“I will be joining Novak’s team in the offseason, helping him prepare for the Australian Open,” Murray said in a statement released by his team. “I’m really excited about it and I’m looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him achieve his goals.
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