'I think..' Mats Wilander explains why Novak Djokovic selected Andy Murray as his coach

Former world No. 1 Mats Wilander has provided insights into Novak Djokovic’s recent decision to bring Andy Murray on board as his new coach. The accomplished seven-time Grand Slam champion believes this move sends a compelling message to fellow competitors like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who are currently at the top of the sport. 

In a video announcement on social media, Djokovic surprised fans and analysts alike by revealing that Murray will be joining his team in preparation for the 2025 Australian Open.

Wilander's take on Murray as Djokovic's coach

In an interview with Eurosport, Wilander asserted that Djokovic's recent move highlights his desire to win his 25th major. He is firmly convinced that Novak is aggressively pursuing his 25th Grand Slam title to establish himself as the undisputed greatest of all time. Wilander pointed out that appointing Andy Murray signifies Djokovic's belief that he still possesses the skills and drive to play top-quality tennis, regardless of his age.

“My first reaction was that Novak Djokovic wants to win more Grand Slam tournaments. So with Andy Murray helping him, I say that he thinks he can still win Grand Slam tournaments in 2025, and maybe even 2026." Wilander said.

"I think the message that Novak is sending is that he still thinks that he has some of his best tennis still in him, or he thinks that his best tennis is still ahead of him. It’s a strong [message] towards Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz and the best players in the world,” he added.

Here is how Murray can help Novak

The tennis icon stated that Murray would be instrumental in helping Djokovic. Given that Murray has faced all the competitors Djokovic will encounter, and has trained with them, he is in a prime position to offer invaluable insights into the intricate tactical aspects of their game.

"What Andy can do is can tell Novak things that maybe Novak already knows, but Andy has played against all these players that Novak will face and Andy has seen them, he’s practised with them," Wilander said.

"He will not have secrets, but he will have other opinions about these guys’ games. I think there’s a lot of small details that Andy Murray will know that maybe Novak doesn’t think about," he explained.

“I think the big picture is going to be very similar. Andy has won three Grand Slam titles, a couple of Olympic gold medals, he’s won the Davis Cup. So the big picture, they both have the exact same idea about," he concluded.