Novak Djokovic signs Andy Murray as coach – Mats Wilander and Álex Corretja explain the superstar’s move

Of course it’s about the 25th title at a Grand Slam tournament. Not just a nice number, but above all an increase in the record that he currently shares with Margaret Court, who also won 24 major competitions.

Murray won’t be able to tell Djokovic any secrets, “but he has a different opinion when it comes to the style in which these younger professionals play.”

It looks similar Àlex Corretja in conversation with Eurosport. “Novak has to start doing things a little differently. He was very solid and very consistent, almost like a perfect machine,” said the French Open finalist in 1998 and 2001. The difficulty is that “the other guys are younger, move a little faster”. The solution for Djokovic? “I expect a very aggressive version from Novak, otherwise he will have a difficult time,” emphasizes Corretja.

Sinner and Alcaraz will not be able to overcome aggression alone. An adapted strategy is also needed – and Murray could be of great help here too. “He knows the opponents’ tactics very well. Andy knows what it’s like when you, as an experienced player, are pressured by young players and how you can defend yourself against it and hurt your opponent,” explains the Eurosport expert.

Together with Murray, Djokovic can now fine-tune tactics and develop ideas to surprise his rivals. “Andy always saw things clearly when you sat down with him.” The collaboration between Djokovic and the three-time Grand Slam tournament winner could work, but is also “an explosive combination,” emphasizes Corretja.

In fact, neither Djokovic nor Murray are characters who use their emotions sparingly in tennis. “Andy and Novak both behaved similarly towards their coaches. Sometimes they complained a little, sometimes they just made it clear how they were feeling on the pitch,” explains Wilander.

“It will be interesting to see how Andy will react when Novak looks up at the trainer’s box, spreads his arms and signals: ‘What should I do now? How come my forehand doesn’t work better? What can you tell me?'” Wilander is already looking forward to “the most fun or interesting relationships we will have between player and coach.”

At the same time, the cooperation is a message to the competition: Djokovic wants to know it again and is getting new motivation, new aspects and perspectives into his game through Murray. And: By focusing only on the big tournaments, he will put less strain on his body than traditional frequent players like Zverev, who played a whopping 90 matches in the 2024 season, while the superstar from Serbia played almost exactly half (46) of this workload.

Wilander believes Djokovic will “probably plan 15 to 20 weeks in which he can show incredible tennis” for the coming season. From his point of view, Murray is “not just there to help Novak in the big matches. It’s about Andy supporting him in every training and every match, in tactical meetings and mental matters.”

So something is brewing – and if the two friends also harmonize in the player/coach constellation, the 25 could actually fall in 2025.