WASHINGTON, November 24, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
When Andy Murray stepped away from professional tennis following the Paris Olympics last August, he wrote wryly on X: “Never even liked tennis anyway.” On Saturday, as he was tabbed by his friend and longtime rival Novak Djokovic to be the Serbian great’s new coach, Djokovic wrote on Instagram: “He never liked retirement anyway.”
The news that one former World No. 1, Djokovic, had enlisted another, Murray, to become his coach, took everyone by surprise when it was announced on social media. That two players, both 37, who have helped define men’s pro tennis in the 21st century will now be on the same team – at least during the upcoming off season and through next January’s Australian Open – indeed is history in the making. It is simply unprecedented.
“We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits,” Djokovic said in a video posted on social media Saturday that featured a montage from some of their memorable matches. “We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game changers, risk takers, history makers.
“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. Welcome on board, Coach – Andy Murray.”
He never liked retirement anyway. pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024
In 36 head-to-head clashes on the ATP Tour, including seven major finals, Djokovic beat Murray 25 times and lost 11. Two of Murray’s three major titles – first at the 2012 US Open and later, his historic first Wimbledon title in 2013 – were against Djokovic. Meanwhile, Djokovic defeated the British great for four of his 10 Australian Open titles as well as in the 2016 French Open title match. They met in 19 finals overall, most recently in the 2017 Doha final.
Djokovic, who spent much of this year without a full-time coach following his split with 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, did not win any majors during the 2024 season after winning three in 2023 and failed to win multiple titles for the first time since 2005. He fell to No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings and ended his campaign 37-9 after losing the final of the Shanghai Masters to current World No. 1 Jannik Sinner early last month. Djokovic later skipped the Paris Masters as well as last week’s ATP Finals in Turin.
Wasn’t on our 2024 bingo card…
But SO here for it @andy_murray | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/e9T2eFW25i
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 23, 2024
Murray told the Associated Press he would help Djokovic, the winner of 24 major titles plus an Olympic gold medal, prepare for the first Grand Slam of 2025, the Australian Open in Melbourne.
“I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the offseason, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open,” Murray said. “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.”
If Djokovic were to win the first major of the new year, he would surpass Margaret Court for most career Grand Slam titles won with 25 as well as win his 11th Australian Open title to reach 100 career ATP Tour titles.
As Tumaini Carayol, who covers pro tennis for The Guardian and The Observer in London, wrote of Murray: “After spending so much of his life trying to outdo Djokovic, here comes a rare opportunity to understand his greatest rival, to put their experiences and thought processes together, and to see where they land. The world will be watching.”
