Britain’s three-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, Andy Murray, will be coaching his longtime rival and friend, Novak Djokovic, as the Serbian prepares for the 2025 Australian Open.
The 37-year-old is set to embark on his first coaching role after retiring from professional tennis in August 2024.
Murray and Djokovic, both born just weeks apart, have shared a storied rivalry spanning over two decades.
Their relationship is steeped in respect and camaraderie, despite countless on-court battles, including four Australian Open finals that Djokovic won against Murray. Now, the two will unite on the same side of the net for the first time in their careers.
Announcing the partnership, Murray said, “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open. I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.”
The Australian Open, set to run from January 12-26, 2025, will provide Djokovic with an opportunity to extend his record of 10 titles at the Melbourne tournament. Murray’s arrival in Djokovic’s camp follows the latter’s decision to revamp his team, including parting ways with long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic.
Djokovic posted a nostalgic video on social media platform X, humorously captioned, “He never liked retirement anyway.”
Reflecting on their shared history, he said, “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. I thought our story may be over – turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner.”
The announcement comes after a challenging year for Djokovic. Despite clinching his first Olympic gold medal in Paris, a title he described as his “greatest achievement,” 2024 marked the first season since 2017 in which he failed to win a Grand Slam.
He fell to world number one Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals and lost the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz.
An unspecified injury also cut his season short, making it the first year since 2005 that Djokovic did not secure an ATP title.
For Murray, this coaching stint marks a new chapter following his retirement. The Brit concluded his illustrious 19-year career with a quarter-final finish in the men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics, playing alongside Dan Evans.
Once the top-ranked player in the world in 2016, Murray’s career was significantly impacted by a hip injury sustained a year later.
However, his triumphs at Wimbledon, the US Open, and his Olympic gold medals remain etched in tennis history.
Murray and Djokovic’s combined expertise could spell success for the Serbian star. Djokovic currently holds 24 Grand Slam titles, tied with Margaret Court for the most major singles titles in history.
A victory in Melbourne would elevate him to the pinnacle of tennis greatness.
Djokovic expressed his excitement about the collaboration, adding, “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.”
With Murray in his corner, Djokovic will look to bounce back and reclaim his dominance as the 2025 tennis season unfolds.
Their partnership, built on mutual respect and a shared history, promises to add an intriguing layer to Djokovic’s pursuit of further glory.
