Former rivals staff up earlier than new tennis season as Djokovic seeks document twenty fifth singles and eleventh Australian Open title.
Novak Djokovic has employed retired longtime rival Andy Murray on his teaching staff because the Serbian legend seeks his twenty fifth Grand Slam singles title, beginning on the Australian Open in January.
“I’m thrilled to have certainly one of my largest rivals on the identical facet of the online with me, this time as my coach. I stay up for beginning the season with Andy and having him by my facet in Melbourne, the place we’ve shared many distinctive moments all through our careers,” Djokovic stated in an announcement on Saturday.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion who retired from aggressive tennis on the Olympics in August, stated: “I’m very enthusiastic about this and stay up for being on the identical facet of the online for a change.
“I’m additionally grateful for the chance to assist him obtain his objectives for the upcoming yr.”
Djokovic posted a video on X of him and Murray in the course of the Scotsman’s taking part in profession, jokingly titled: “He by no means preferred retirement anyway.”
He by no means preferred retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024
The 37-year-old has gained the Australian Open a document 10 instances, defeating Murray in 4 Melbourne finals.
Djokovic didn’t win a Grand Slam in 2024 and has slipped to seventh on this planet, though he did land the Olympic singles title in Paris, a victory he described as his “best achievement”.
Jannik Sinner, who will end the yr because the runaway world primary, beat him within the Australian Open semifinals and Djokovic misplaced to Carlos Alcaraz in straight units within the Wimbledon last.
He’s degree with Margaret Court docket for essentially the most main singles titles by any participant and would dearly like to overtake the Australian in Melbourne.
‘Gamechangers, danger takers, historical past makers’
Djokovic and Murray confronted one another 36 instances of their careers with the Serb profitable 25 instances.
Nineteen of these clashes got here in finals, together with seven on the Slams.
For Murray, two of these main championship duels had been vital.
He captured his maiden Grand Slam title with a five-set victory over his rival on the 2012 US Open whereas, a yr later, he famously turned the primary British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years courtesy of a straight units victory within the last on the All England Membership.
“We performed one another since we had been boys – 25 years of being rivals, of pushing one another past our limits. We had among the most epic battles in our sport,” Djokovic stated.
“They known as us gamechangers, danger takers, historical past makers. I believed our story could also be over. Seems, it has one last chapter. It’s time for certainly one of my hardest opponents to step into my nook.”
Djokovic ended his teaching partnership with Goran Ivanisevic in March regardless of profitable 12 Slams collectively.
Former Wimbledon winner Ivanisevic had admitted Djokovic is “not a straightforward man”, such is his depth to make historical past within the sport.
“Particularly when one thing’s not going his method. Typically it’s very sophisticated,” stated Ivanisevic after Djokovic had claimed the 2023 French Open.
