Novak Djokovic declared on Saturday that he will be coached by his long-standing rival Andy Murray for the upcoming season, beginning at the Australian Open in January. Novak asserted that he is excited to have one of his most significant rivals on his side of the net, this time in a coaching role. He is eager to kick off the season with Andy by his side in Melbourne, a place where they've experienced many remarkable moments throughout their careers.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion who retired from competitive tennis at the Olympics in August, expressed his excitement about the opportunity and is eager to be on the same side of the net for a change. He emphasized his gratitude for being able to support others in achieving their goals for the upcoming year.
Djokovic revealed his new coach
Djokovic shared a lighthearted video on X featuring him and Murray from the Scotsman's playing days, playfully highlighting that Murray had never seemed quite ready to embrace retirement.
"I'm thrilled to have one of my biggest rivals on the same side of the net with me, this time as my coach. I look forward to starting the season with Andy and having him by my side in Melbourne, where we've shared many exceptional moments throughout our careers," Djokovic said
"I am very excited about this and look forward to being on the same side of the net for a change. I'm also grateful for the opportunity to help him achieve his goals for the upcoming year." Murray added.
At 37 years old, the Serbian superstar has achieved remarkable success, securing the Australian Open title a record 10 times, including victories over Murray in four finals in Melbourne.
Although Djokovic did not capture a Grand Slam title in 2024 and has experienced a drop to seventh in the world rankings, he did celebrate a significant achievement by winning the Olympic singles title in Paris, which he expressed as one of his greatest accomplishments.
Jannik Sinner is set to conclude this year as the clear world number one, having achieved a huge victory over Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals. Djokovic also faced a tough challenge in the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.
Currently, Djokovic is tied with Margaret Court for the most major singles titles ever won, and he is eager to surpass her record at the upcoming tournament in Melbourne.
Throughout their careers, Djokovic and Murray competed against each other 36 times, with Djokovic emerging victorious in 25 of those encounters. Notably, 19 of their matchups have been in finals, including seven at Grand Slam events.