ANALYSE – The association of the two champions, friends with strong characters, intrigues, makes tennis lovers salivate and says a lot about the intact ambitions of the Serb at 37 years old.
A big golf fan, Andy Murray has played almost every day since his tennis retirement three months ago after the Paris Olympics. Obviously not enough to fill the void of the absence of high-level competition. His retirement was indeed short-lived. The Briton will dive back into the deep end of the circuit sooner than expected. And no, it wasn’t a 1is April: Murray will work well with Djokovic, initially, to support the Serb’s off-season and his preparation for 2025. With the Australian Open as his first major meeting (January 12-26). A Major where Djokovic has won ten times. Looking for a big name to coach him since his separation from Goran Ivanisevic at the end of last March, Novak Djokovic, who remains in a blank season (apart from his coronation at the Paris Olympics) managed to convince his former great rival to accept the job. A surprise announcement which had the effect of a bomb on the tennis world. The 29the world Felix Auger‐Aliassime, is ready to break out the popcorn. «So the ATP Tour is really a film”he reacted on X.
Both born in 1987, the two 37-year-old players, former world number ones, have faced each other 36 times, with 25 victories for Djokovic on the circuit. In seven of the eleven Grand Slam finals contested by Andy Murray, the Scot found himself facing Novak Djokovic seven times for two victories (Wimbledon 2013 and US Open 2012). The one won against the Serbian in the semi-final of the 2012 Olympic Games also left its mark. Murray also suffered some of his most painful defeats against Djokovic in Melbourne, losing four times in the final (2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016) and once in 2012 during a grueling semi-final that lasted nearly from five o’clock. In recent years, Djokovic has gotten into the habit of surrounding himself with former stars, from Boris Becker in 2013 to Ivanisevic via André Agassi in 2017. Andy Murray, he collaborated for a long time with Ivan Lendl,
If there is respect between Djokovic and Federer – Nadal, there is a bond of friendship with the Briton. The two have now known each other for 25 years. Murray having been best man at the Serb’s wedding. Their friendship will be put to the test when we know the entire character of the Scot and that of the native of Belgrade who never spares his coaches. The latter has the habit of yelling furiously at his team members when things don’t go his way. Murray did the same thing…
If he wants to win this famous 25e Grand Slam title – to become the only record holder for Grand Slam titles for men and women combined – Djokovic will have to find the key against the duo Jannik Sinner – Carlos Alcaraz. The Italian, currently untouchable, remains on three victories in a row against the Serbian and the Spaniard has won the last two Wimbledon finals against the Djoker. One of Andy Murray’s great on-court strengths was his tennis IQ, which allowed him to find the best strategy to exploit his opponents’ weaknesses. He will perhaps give his new foal some wise advice to stop the negative spiral facing the two prodigies. Murray also played and beat Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the end of his career. One certainty: Djokovic proves, to those who still doubted it, that he is still hungry for titles in the home stretch of his immense career.
