Djokovic hires Andy Murray as Australian Open tennis Grand Slam coach | Tennis News
The former rivals meet ahead of the new tennis season as Djokovic seeks a record 25 singles and 11th Australian Open title.
Novak Djokovic has recruited retired rival Andy Murray to his coaching staff as the Serbian seeks his 25th Grand Slam title, starting at the Australian Open in January.
“I was happy to have one of my biggest rivals on the same side as me, this time as my coach. “I’m looking forward to starting the season with Andy and having him by my side in Melbourne, where we’ve shared many great moments throughout our lives,” Djokovic said in a statement on Saturday.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion who retired from competitive tennis at the Olympics in August, said: “I’m really excited about this and I’m looking forward to being on one side of the net for a change.
“I am grateful for the opportunity I have to help him achieve his goals for the coming year.”
Djokovic posted a video of his X with Murray playing the Scotsman, with the caption: “He never liked retirement.”
He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024
The 37-year-old has won a record 10 Australian Open titles, beating Murray in four Melbourne finals.
Djokovic failed to win a Grand Slam in 2024 and dropped to seventh in the world, although he won the Olympic title in Paris, a victory he described as “his greatest achievement”.
Jannik Sinner, who will end the year as the number one player to break away from the world, defeated him in the semi-finals of the Australian Open and Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the Wimbledon final.
She is level with Margaret Court for the most major singles titles of any player and would be keen to overtake the Australian in Melbourne.
‘Game changers, risk takers, history makers’
Djokovic and Murray have faced each other 36 times in their career and the Serbian has won 25 times.
Nineteen of these tournaments have reached the finals, including seven at Slams.
For Murray, two of those major championships were important.
He claimed his first Grand Slam title by defeating his opponent in five sets at the 2012 US Open and, the following year, became the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years by winning in straight sets in the All England Club final.
“We played with each other since we were boys – 25 years of being rivals, pushing each other beyond our limits. We had the most important fights in our sport,” said Djokovic.
“They called us game changers, risk takers, history makers. I thought our story might be over. Turns out it has one last chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest enemies to come into my corner.”
Djokovic ended his partnership with Goran Ivanisevic in March despite winning 12 Slam titles together.
Former Wimbledon winner Ivanisevic admitted that Djokovic is “not an easy person”, he is determined to make history in the sport.
“Especially when something doesn’t go his way. Sometimes it’s very difficult,” Ivanisevic said after Djokovic won the 2023 French Open.
