‘Caught off guard’ – Novak Djokovic stunned Andy Murray with coaching request

Novak Djokovic has admitted his surprise at having old rival Andy Murray in his corner for the Australian Open. The two of tennis’ iconic ‘big four’ will become one in January 2025 as Djokovic aims to add another Grand Slam on to his record of 24. Murray and Djokovic spent years as rivals – now they will be on the same sideGetty Once fierce rivals clashing throughout their junior days, and going on to compete against each other in multiple Grand Slam finals, Murray is now Djokovic’s coach and aiming to help the 37-year-old enjoy a glittering twilight of his record-breaking career. The pair met 36 times during their career, with Djokovic coming out on top with 25 wins to Murray’s 11. Djokovic beat the Scotsman in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals, as well as the 2016 French Open final. Murray got the better of the Serbian in the 2012 US Open final and at Wimbledon the year after, as well as the 2016 ATP World Tour final to end the season as the world’s No.1 player. Speaking in Qatar ahead of Sunday’s Formula 1 Grand Prix in Lusail, the Serbian explained how he united with Murray, and admitted Sir Andy didn’t see it coming in a million years. He said: “I was going through a process of thinking about next season in the last couple of months. “I was trying to figure out what I need at this stage of my career, because I stopped with my [former] coach Goran Ivanisevic, who I was very successful with and worked for many years, in March. “So I took about six months to really think about if I need a coach and, if yes, who that’s going to be and the profile of the coach. “We were going through names and I realised that the perfect coach for me at this point would be someone who has been through the experiences I am going through, possibly a multiple Grand Slam winner, a former [world] number one. “I was thinking about different people and a discussion about Andy Murray appeared on the table with me and my team. Murray embraces with Novak Djokovic as part of his farewell presentation at Wimbledon 2024 “We were like, ‘Okay, I’m going to give him a call and see how it goes’. It caught him a little off guard as well because he wasn’t expecting it. “We connected really fast and he accepted it after a few days. I can’t be more excited about it.” Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray confirmed his retirement in August, with the 2024 Paris Olympics his final event, but he has quickly returned to the sport – this time in the players’ box. Murray hanging up his racquet came the same year Rafael Nadal also announced the conclusion to his career on the court – leaving Djokovic as the last ‘big four’ superstar standing after Roger Federer’s retirement in 2022. Praised for being a great tactician and student of the game, it will definitely be interesting to see how capable of a coach Murray is. Commenting on the recent announcement on his podcast Served, Andy Roddick said: “Novak doesn’t need a babysitter. He doesn’t need someone to teach him professionalism, he doesn’t need someone to teach him how to hit a forehand or a backhand. Novak Djokovic explains how his "surprise" Andy Murray link up came about pic.twitter.com/s8Wf6NHViA— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) November 29, 2024 “He needs a strategist, an IQ mind that he can bounce ideas off and work on very specific things for very specific match ups.” If Murray is able to help Djokovic go further in the Australian Open than last year’s semi-final defeat, even more top stars could come calling.

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Nov 30, 2024 - 07:47

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‘Caught off guard’ – Novak Djokovic stunned Andy Murray with coaching request

Novak Djokovic has admitted his surprise at having old rival Andy Murray in his corner for the Australian Open.

The two of tennis’ iconic ‘big four’ will become one in January 2025 as Djokovic aims to add another Grand Slam on to his record of 24.

Murray and Djokovic spent years as rivals – now they will be on the same side

Once fierce rivals clashing throughout their junior days, and going on to compete against each other in multiple Grand Slam finals, Murray is now Djokovic’s coach and aiming to help the 37-year-old enjoy a glittering twilight of his record-breaking career.

The pair met 36 times during their career, with Djokovic coming out on top with 25 wins to Murray’s 11.

Djokovic beat the Scotsman in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals, as well as the 2016 French Open final.

Murray got the better of the Serbian in the 2012 US Open final and at Wimbledon the year after, as well as the 2016 ATP World Tour final to end the season as the world’s No.1 player.

Speaking in Qatar ahead of Sunday’s Formula 1 Grand Prix in Lusail, the Serbian explained how he united with Murray, and admitted Sir Andy didn’t see it coming in a million years.

He said: “I was going through a process of thinking about next season in the last couple of months.

“I was trying to figure out what I need at this stage of my career, because I stopped with my [former] coach Goran Ivanisevic, who I was very successful with and worked for many years, in March.

“So I took about six months to really think about if I need a coach and, if yes, who that’s going to be and the profile of the coach.

“We were going through names and I realised that the perfect coach for me at this point would be someone who has been through the experiences I am going through, possibly a multiple Grand Slam winner, a former [world] number one.

“I was thinking about different people and a discussion about Andy Murray appeared on the table with me and my team.

Murray embraces with Novak Djokovic as part of his farewell presentation at Wimbledon 2024

“We were like, ‘Okay, I’m going to give him a call and see how it goes’. It caught him a little off guard as well because he wasn’t expecting it.

“We connected really fast and he accepted it after a few days. I can’t be more excited about it.”

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray confirmed his retirement in August, with the 2024 Paris Olympics his final event, but he has quickly returned to the sport – this time in the players’ box.

Murray hanging up his racquet came the same year Rafael Nadal also announced the conclusion to his career on the court – leaving Djokovic as the last ‘big four’ superstar standing after Roger Federer’s retirement in 2022.

Praised for being a great tactician and student of the game, it will definitely be interesting to see how capable of a coach Murray is.

Commenting on the recent announcement on his podcast Served, Andy Roddick said: “Novak doesn’t need a babysitter. He doesn’t need someone to teach him professionalism, he doesn’t need someone to teach him how to hit a forehand or a backhand.

Novak Djokovic explains how his "surprise" Andy Murray link up came about Read More

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admin As a sports enthusiast from the United States, my passion for sports goes beyond mere entertainment—it is a way of life. I am particularly drawn to the "Big Five" European football leagues: the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1.

‘Caught off guard’ – Novak Djokovic stunned Andy Murray with coaching request

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