Saturday, November 23, 2024, 7:29 p.m.
In a surprising turn that has shocked the tennis world, Novak Djokovic announced that Andy Murray will be his new coach from the start of pre-season until the Australian Open. The Serbian, who has dominated world tennis for more than a decade, has decided to take a bold step by signing one of his greatest rivals as a coach, marking the beginning of a collaboration that could change the course of the final stretch of his career.
This unexpected announcement came through a video on Djokovic’s social networks, in which the Serbian joked about the “retirement” of Murray, who left the courts after participating in doubles at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He humorously recalled his historic rivalry with the Scot, underlining that, despite years of fierce competition, they would now share the same corner of the court. “He never liked the idea of retirement,” Djokovic said jokingly, followed by footage of their past matches.
Djokovic’s decision to do without a permanent coach for much of 2024 had sparked speculation about his future in terms of coaching. The Serbian had worked in recent years with several renowned coaches, including Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Goran Ivanisević, but the latter left his position at the beginning of 2024, leaving Djokovic in search of a new mentor. After several months without an official coach, he finally found in Murray the motivation and experience he needed to face what promises to be one of the most decisive years of his career.
Murray, 37, will be in charge of guiding Djokovic during the preseason and, in principle, until the start of the Australian Open, which is held in January. The objective of the partnership will be to prepare the Serbian for a new assault on the Grand Slam, with special emphasis on Melbourne, where Djokovic has won ten times and where Murray has suffered five defeats in the final. With the possibility of expanding their relationship after the first major of the year, the partnership between the two great rivals appears to be focused on long-term goals, with the hope that Murray can help Djokovic regain his best level and add more titles to its already historic collection.
In a statement, Djokovic expressed his enthusiasm for this new stage. «I am delighted to have one of my biggest rivals on the same side of the net, this time as a coach. For more than 25 years we have been great rivals, pushing each other to our limits, and sharing some of the most epic battles in tennis history. “I’m looking forward to starting the season with Andy and having him by my side in Melbourne, where we have experienced so many exceptional moments throughout our careers,” commented the Serbian.
Historical rivalry
The rivalry between Djokovic and Murray has been one of the most intense and exciting in recent tennis history. From their first encounters in junior tournaments to the epic Grand Slam finals, the two have engaged in some of the most unforgettable battles in sport. In total, they have met 36 times, with a balance of 25 victories for Djokovic and 11 for Murray. Of those 36 duels, several have been Grand Slam finals, where the Serbian has taken the lead with a record of 8-2 against the British.
Murray, who was number one in the world and won three Grand Slam titles throughout his career, will now be in charge of transmitting his vast experience to Djokovic. Although this is the first time Murray will take on the coaching role, his relationship with Djokovic has always been close, and the two share a deep understanding of elite tennis.
