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 one among my greatest rivals on the identical aspect of the web with me, this time as my coach. I stay up for beginning the season with Andy and having him by my aspect in Melbourne, the place we’ve shared many distinctive moments all through our careers,” Djokovic stated in a press release 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 aspect of the web for a change.
“I’m additionally grateful for the chance to assist him obtain his targets for the upcoming 12 months.”
Djokovic posted a video on X of him and Murray throughout 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 received 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 the 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 12 months because the runaway world primary, beat him within the Australian Open semifinals and Djokovic misplaced to Carlos Alcaraz in straight units within the Wimbledon ultimate.
He’s stage with Margaret Courtroom 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 successful 25 instances.
Nineteen of these clashes got here in finals, together with seven on the Slams.
For Murray, two of these main championship duels have been vital.
He captured his maiden Grand Slam title with a five-set victory over his rival on the 2012 US Open whereas, a 12 months later, he famously turned the primary British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years courtesy of a straight units victory within the ultimate on the All England Membership.
“We performed one another since we have 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 referred to as us gamechangers, danger takers, historical past makers. I assumed our story could also be over. Seems, it has one ultimate chapter. It’s time for one among my hardest opponents to step into my nook.”
Djokovic ended his teaching partnership with Goran Ivanisevic in March regardless of successful 12 Slams collectively.
Former Wimbledon winner Ivanisevic had admitted Djokovic is “not a simple man”, such is his depth to make historical past within the sport.
“Particularly when one thing’s not going his method. Generally it’s very sophisticated,” stated Ivanisevic after Djokovic had claimed the 2023 French Open.
