He will never stay on the golf course for long. As much as Andy Murray enjoyed seeing his handicap plummet for the first time, a man never forgets his first passion, and the boy from Dunblane has always loved tennis.
Still, it would have taken something special to lure the 37-year-old back, less than four months after retiring. It couldn’t be more special than this. The news came on Saturday night. Murray will coach Novak Djokovic to his 11th Australian Open title… even for a notoriously eccentric man like the Serb, it’s a flight of fancy. A tennis fan fiction storyline brought to thrilling reality.
“We’ve been playing with each other since we were kids,” Djokovic said in an Instagram video featuring highlights of his rivalry. Their rivalry spanned 25 years, pushing each other beyond their limits. We had the most epic battle in our sport. They called us game changers, risk takers and history makers. I thought our story might be over. It turns out there is one final chapter.’
There is poetry in the fact that the 37-year-old, so close to the end of his career, has transformed into the man he knew from the beginning. Born exactly one week after Murray, the pair grew up competing as juniors and competed in 36 games as pros.
Djokovic was kind. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer but he was always closest to Murray. They shared a feeling of being outsiders at times, and there were many similarities in their play, including dominant backhands, aggressive return games, and counter-punching styles.
So while there is an emotional element to this appointment, it is also a statement of intent. This fall, there were rumors that Djokovic was losing focus. With an Olympic gold medal as the final jewel in his crown, what more was there left for him, they said?
Andy Murray (right) will coach Novak Djokovic in one of tennis’ most surprising stories.
It’s a true flight of fantasy, turning a tennis fan fiction storyline into a thrilling reality.
Djokovic has signaled he is ready to begin a final push to overhaul his current rival.
With these left-field and risky appointments, Djokovic is ready to make a final push to overhaul Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz and is making it known that Murray is the man to help him.
Scot has the potential to be an outstanding coach. His tennis IQ and understanding of the game is better than anyone’s in history, and he has an obsessive interest in all aspects of the sport. From statistics to racquet technique to training methods, Murray never took his coaches’ word for it. He had to see and test it for himself.
This is the beginning of his coaching career. If he decides to make it his calling in the near future, what better way to start than by tapping into the brains of the greatest player of all time.
Djokovic said on Saturday: ‘I’m looking forward to the start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy, with whom I have shared many special moments on Australian soil.’
It may have been an unusual moment for Djokovic, but it was a miserable moment for Murray. They have met five times in Melbourne and Djokovic has won all five times, including the final four. If Djokovic wins a 25th Grand Slam next year, surely his best chance will be Down Under, and in Murray he has turned to the man who has pushed him closer than anyone else there.
It will be interesting to see these two big characters interact. United by their thirst for success, they are very different people in many ways. Djokovic is serious and spiritual. Murray has a dry, earthy smell.
A social media video they made during lockdown summed up the contrast. When asked what the first thing he does when he wakes up in the morning is, Djokovic said: “Thanksgiving and prayer, a couple of deep breaths, hug my wife and run to the kids.” Andy how about you? ‘I’m going to pee.’
The two have always been good friends and felt like outsiders with similar play styles.
Djokovic, 39, looks to check the threats of Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Yannick Sinner (right).
Time will tell what the promise will be, but the partnership has the potential to be special.
But they say naysayers attract, and while their deal only lasts until the end of the Australian Open, if all goes well and Murray can coach Djokovic to the title, why would either of them cut the cord?
If this partnership can live up to its value, Murray could return to Wimbledon sitting in one of the seats where long-suffering coaches have felt the lashing of their tongues.
Djokovic isn’t averse to getting heated in the coaching box either. Will he set fire to his old friend? There are several former Sir Andy staffers who would smile at the sight of tennis shoes on the other side.
