It was in 2006 that Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic faced each other for the first time. That day, at the Masters 1000 in Madrid, the Serbian won in three sets. 35 additional matches followed. Their face-to-face has necessarily been frozen since last August, the date on which “Muzza” played his last match during the Paris Olympic Games. A face-to-face obviously dominated by the GOAT (25-11).
Murray has never been a member of the Big 3. On the other hand, he has made a place for himself in the Big 4, because he is the player who gave the most trouble to the best three in the history of tennis.
25, this number which would place him for eternity as the absolute boss of tennis, period
Of these three aliens, Murray was closest with Djokovic. Rafa and Roger had their “bromance”, Andy and Novak also had their little friendship. With a birthday a week apart – May 15, 1987 for Murray and May 22 for Djokovic – they have de facto rubbed shoulders throughout their training when age determines the competition in which one participates.
This proximity in age, as well as many other reasons, meant that life brought them closer together. Throughout their careers, they maintained very good relations. And they played with the same racket equipment manufacturer, which also helped bring them closer together.
This is why when the announcement fell last Saturday, November 23, that Andy Murray was going to coach Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Australian Open, it was surprising, but at the same time not really. Surprising, because who could have suspected that these two would join forces in a tennis player/coach collaboration? But less surprising is that it was Andy Murray that Novak Djokovic chose to help him reach this magic number of 25 Grand Slams. This figure which would place him for eternity (or at least a period of time which is not far from it) as the absolute boss of tennis, period.
Mentally, Novak Djokovic is still a machine, but physically, the record holder for Grand Slam titles is no longer who he used to be. Sequence the matches in five sets, based on 4 hours per match, with, facing him, young guns who give everything for what is each time the match of their lives, becomes more and more complicated. To achieve his umpteenth and perhaps final objective, Novak must reinvent himself.
Coming back to “Mokovic”, Murray’s playing intelligence could only do the Serbian good
But what options does he have? Can he change his ball throwing, modify his forehand grip, become a volley player? No, no and no! Novak is Novak and will remain so. He’s not going to become Stefan Edberg, Ivo Karlovic or Nick Kyrgios. On the other hand, what he can do is improve his tennis IQ, which is already very high, but which can still improve to compensate for a slight drop in physical level.
Speaking of Kyrgios, we all know that he is very close to Murray and, more recently, friends with Novak Djokovic too. What if the Australian had something to do with this mix-up (812th word invented since I wrote for We Are Tennis)? That wouldn’t be so surprising. Kyrgios will make his return to the Australian Open, I find the coincidence astonishing. I got lost, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we found each other in each other’s boxes.
Coming back to “Mokovic”, Murray’s playing intelligence can only do the Serb good. But for that, Novak will have to listen. He won’t be able to run away to his clan in the middle of a match, otherwise I bet you my money that Jamie’s little brother will get up and leave the arena immediately. Novak will therefore be forced to find solutions elsewhere to vent his frustration. And this is precisely what will make a change happen.
This is all obviously speculation and fantasy. The only certainty: the two men will be associated for at least one Grand Slam. But if you allow me one last excursion into the imagination, I would see Novak lifting, for the 11th time, the Australian Open trophy and simultaneously announcing his retirement. And that would be a successful start, which for the GOAT would not be surprising.
