NEW DELHI: Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have identified every for about 25 years. They had been born per week aside. They performed one another as juniors once they had been all of 12 years previous. Upon turning skilled, they squared off 36 occasions, together with 10-times in Grand Slams. The Serb received 25 occasions and now-retired Murray took the opposite 11. On the majors, that report stood at 8-2.
Nowhere did the stability tip extra in favour of 37-year-Djokovic than on the Australian Open. They met 5 occasions – 4 finals and a semi-final – and Djokovic held the higher hand every time.
Beginning Sunday, Murray is not going to be standing throughout the online from Djokovic, hoping to overtake this report. As an alternative, he will likely be much-closer to the Serb – in a specifically designed “pod” that are devoted for the coaches.
The pods, a brand new characteristic on the Australian Open which will get underway on 12 January, will enable 4 members of the participant’s employees to have the ability to give them recommendation. Murray can have entry to real-time information and statistics on a display to make ideas as Djokovic chases an elusive 25th Grand Slam title.
Djokovic had been with out a coach since splitting with Goran Ivanisevic in March final 12 months, having received 12 majors collectively.
The decision got here out of the blue for Murray who was on a golf course when Djokovic proposed the concept. The Briton thought of the wild proposition and mentioned it together with his household earlier than agreeing.
“Might by no means fairly recover from the road (in Melbourne), sadly. This man was single-handedly answerable for that. So I’m now right here to try to sabotage his probabilities of successful one other one,” Murray joked.
“Novak requested me to assist him; I used to be shocked,” stated Murray, who final performed on the Paris Olympics in August. “I used to be clearly not anticipating that when he known as.”
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Djokovic agreed that the sensation of getting Murray, a former foe, feeding him balls throughout follow is getting some used to.
“I have to say, in the beginning, it was a little bit of a wierd feeling to have the ability to share the insights with him, not simply in regards to the recreation however about how I really feel, about life usually. Not in a unfavorable approach, however simply in a approach I’ve by no means carried out that with him, as a result of he was at all times one in every of my best rivals,” Djokovic stated on Friday. “We had been at all times sort of hiding issues from one another. Now all playing cards are open on the desk.”
Daniil Medvedev summed up the pairing fantastically by shopping for a comparability from soccer. “Think about (if Lionel) Messi would turn out to be the coach of Cristiano Ronaldo. It will be unusual,” stated the Russian.
Is {that a} hyperbole? Not by an extended shot. Djokkovic and Murray comprised two of the ‘Large 4’ period which additionally included Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Djokovic, the one one left standing, owns a males’s-record 24 majors, together with 10 on the Australian Open, and has spent probably the most weeks as World No. 1 in historical past. Murray, additionally 37, too occupied the top-rank, owns three main singles trophies, was a Slam runner-up eight occasions and is the one participant to win two Olympic singles gold medals.
They’re, nevertheless, seemingly totally different personalities. Djokovic has an unconventional perception system and is dedicated to yoga, meditation and a strict vegan food plan. Murray, compared, self implodes on the court docket and would verbally berate himself again and again via his profession.
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Former India No. 1 Somdev Devvarman believes there are much more similarities than variations.
“Each of them are tremendous fiery. They’re fiery with their groups. They’re extremely aggressive. They’re unbelievable fighters, nice drawback solvers. Got here from a really comparable period. They’re of the identical age, in order that they take a look at tennis in the same approach. They’re coping with the perils of the fashionable recreation and the way huge individuals are hitting the ball and the brand new model of the way it’s modified over the past 4 or 5 years. They’re coping with it collectively,” stated Devvarman throughout a media interplay.
“I do really feel like there’s loads of similarities. And clearly Novak believed that having any person like Andy on his aspect would solely be useful. It will be enjoyable. It will possibly be refreshing, possibly one thing that he wants presently in his profession. So, clearly, there’s loads of belief between the 2 of them. In the end, Novak is seeking to discover that little edge that may assist him beat loads of his opponents, and if he believes that Andy Murray can provide him that edge, I am trying ahead to watching,” he added.
Djokovic’s main trophy cupboard has remained untouched because the 2023 US Open. It was the primary time since 2017 that he did not win a Grand Slam in a season. But, the Serb added an Olympic gold – an elusive silverware for a person that had received the whole lot doable.
Somdev, who reached a career-high of World No. 62 in 2011 and received three medals on the Asian Video games, thinks the partnership will solely support Novak in an try at successful his 25th Grand Slam, thereby breaking the tie with Margaret Courtroom within the all-time checklist.
“Novak has taken a leap of religion in his previous pal, who he believes has implausible tennis IQ. He is devoted, he works arduous, and he would not depart any stone unturned so as to succeed. To have that type of vitality in your camp, it might imply quite a bit,” stated Somdev.
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“It is humbling, truthfully, to see it from Novak’s perspective that he would ask a pal of such a excessive normal. And it is much more humbling from Andy’s perspective as a result of everytime you take a training alternative, the very first thing that you need to perceive is whenever you coach, it isn’t about you anymore in any respect. It is at all times in regards to the participant. For a celebrity like Andy Murray, to take a backseat speaks quite a bit about his character.
“So I am simply excited as a result of it is two nice personalities in tennis, two nice mates, two nice characters, and success for them could be success for tennis if it went the correct approach,” he concluded.
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