'Very grateful that he's there' - Novak Djokovic hails coach Andy Murray after beating Carlos Alcaraz in quarter-final

Serbian ace Novak Djokovic has spoken highly about the significance of his stellar win over Carlos Alcaraz in the 2025 Australian Open, calling it a crucial milestone for himself and his team, which now includes his former rival as a coach, Andy Murray. After his blistering quarter-final win, the Serbian legend celebrated with the three-time Grand Slam winner, seated in a coaching pod, marking a poignant moment for the former rivals turned into the coach and player duo.

The 37-year-old star fought back from one set down to defeat the Spaniard by 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, and 6-4, grabbing a spot in his 50th Grand Slam semi-final on January 21, Tuesday.

Having failed to win a single Grand Slam title in 2024, Djokovic sought a fresh start in the 2025 season and brought former tennis player Novak Djokovic into his team. The Serbian legend expressed their gratitude to Andy Murray, accepting and acknowledging that Murray agreed to this partnership without hesitation.

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This was a huge win for all of us, including Andy and myself: Novak Djokovic

It's worth noting that Murray's relief was clearly evident when Novak Djokovic's match point was converted to seal the magnificent win. This victory silenced the critics and showcased that, at the age of 37, the Serbian legend seems to be a formidable force in the race for the Grand Slam titles.

Novak Djokovic spoke about Andy Murray after his win over Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open, ‘I feel more connected to Andy every day… the fact that he's out there, and he doesn't need to be’ 🥹

“At the end you went over to Andy. This your first massive test with your new… pic.twitter.com/C5raYeFwug

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 21, 2025

"He's been as committed to my career and this tournament as he can be. He agreed to work with me. He's giving all his support to me, to the whole team, and trying to make it work. This was a huge win for all of us, including Andy and myself, you know, for the relationship. Yeah, that's why I went to him because I just felt very grateful that he's there," Novak Djokovic said after the win.