Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray‘s connection spans 25 years, ranging from their junior tennis days. Their rivalry contains 36 skilled matches and 10 Grand Slam encounters. Nonetheless, till just lately, they hadn’t engaged in open conversations about tennis or private issues.
This modified when Djokovic invited the just lately retired Murray to teach him, not less than for the Australian Open.
“I need to say, in the beginning, it was a little bit of an odd feeling to have the ability to share the insights with him, not simply in regards to the sport however about how I really feel, about life on the whole. Not in a detrimental method, however simply in a method I’ve by no means executed that with him, as a result of he was at all times one in all my biggest rivals,” Djokovic mentioned Friday.
Djokovic defined that their earlier rivalry prevented such open communication.
“We had been at all times type of hiding issues from one another. Now all playing cards are open on the desk.”
This sudden partnership stunned the tennis world in November when Djokovic contacted Murray in regards to the teaching risk.
Two rivals at the moment are united. Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, in contrast the scenario to a hypothetical soccer state of affairs.
“Think about,” Medvedev mentioned, “(if Lionel) Messi would grow to be the coach of Cristiano Ronaldo. It could be unusual.”
The sight of Murray teaching Djokovic throughout observe classes is certainly uncommon.
Each gamers are thought of tennis legends.
Djokovic holds a males’s document of 24 Grand Slam titles, together with 10 Australian Open championships. He additionally holds the document for many weeks at No. 1 within the ATP rankings.
Murray has reached the highest rating, received three main singles titles, and been a Grand Slam runner-up eight instances. 5 of these remaining losses had been in opposition to Djokovic, 4 of which occurred on the Australian Open. Murray is the one tennis participant with two Olympic singles gold medals.
“Might by no means fairly recover from the road (in Melbourne), sadly. This man was single-handedly liable for that. So I am now right here to try to sabotage his probabilities of successful one other one,” Murray joked.
Murray described his shock upon receiving Djokovic’s teaching request.
“Novak requested me to assist him; I used to be shocked,” mentioned Murray, whose final match as a participant got here on the Paris Olympics in August. “I used to be clearly not anticipating that when he referred to as.”
Each gamers are 37 years previous, born every week aside in Could 1987. Djokovic leads their head-to-head document 25-11 general and 8-2 in Grand Slams.
Nonetheless, Murray’s two victories in opposition to Djokovic had been vital: the 2012 U.S. Open remaining (his first main title) and the 2013 Wimbledon remaining, ending a 77-year drought for a British man successful the singles title at Wimbledon.
“We thought we might give it a go and see if I might help,” Murray mentioned.
Murray acknowledged Djokovic’s standing as not only a prime tennis participant however a prime athlete general.
“Novak is not only among the finest tennis gamers of all-time. He is among the finest athletes of all-time. I anticipated him to be a particularly laborious employee. Very diligent. All the time seeking to enhance.”
Djokovic parted methods with coach Goran Ivanisevic in March 2024 after successful 12 Grand Slam titles collectively. He hasn’t appointed a everlasting alternative since then.
The length of Djokovic and Murray’s teaching partnership is unsure.
They spent simply over every week collectively through the offseason and fewer than every week in Melbourne earlier than the Australian Open.
“I used to be enthusiastic about the names that I wish to have subsequent to me for this season. I wished to have any person that received a number of Slams. The record will not be that lengthy. Someone that actually understands what it means to win a Slam, what it means to face the adversity, the stress, the expectations,” Djokovic mentioned.
Djokovic elaborated on the explanations behind his choice to method Murray.
“Andy simply completed his taking part in profession six months in the past. It was considerably of a shock for him after I referred to as him,” Djokovic added. “However I believe his tennis IQ could be very excessive. Everyone knows that.”
