The new and surprising collaboration between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray is getting fans and insiders talking. Everyone knew that the Serbian legend needed new motivation at this point in his career, but no one expected this shocking news.
Nole and Andy have been great rivals for the duration of their careers, Murray stopped playing only a few months ago and has no experience as a coach. These are just some of the reasons that made their announcement strange and at the same time fascinating.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion is used to making surprising choices and is convinced that this move will serve him well in 2025, when he will go on the assault of the 25th Major title of his legendary career. The Serbian ace will start the new season as early as the first week of 2025, intending to play an official tournament before the Australian Open.
Djokovic© Djokovic Facebook/Fair Use
The Happy Slam is one of his favorite tournaments ever, the Major tournament in which he has been most successful (with ten triumphs), which is why it will be an important event to understand Novak’s real chances of winning a Grand Slam title again.
For the first time in his career, the Serbian ace will not be the man to beat in Melbourne. The top favorite will be Jannik Sinner, followed by his great rival Carlos Alcaraz. Among the favorites there is also Alexander Zverev, who has finished the season very well and finally wants to break the curse in the Majors.
Djokovic will be motivated
Everyone is wondering what exactly role Murray will have in the team of the former world number 1 and what his help can be. The feeling is that the former Scottish champion will mainly give him tactical advice, having faced almost all of Nole’s current rivals.
Djokovic will be motivated by the fact that he has a legend of the sport by his side, who knows the sensations he feels on the court very well.
In a recent interview with ‘L’Equipe’, Daniil Medvedev’s coach Gilles Cervara opened up on Murray’s new role: “Knowing Murray, I’m not surprised by what’s happening because I knew he wouldn’t be able to stay still for more than two or three months after his retirement.
But he doesn’t have what you might call the training methodology, he doesn’t know anything about coaching and he’s going to learn as he goes along. That’s not why Novak wants to collaborate with him.”
Cervara also added: “This coaching part, either Novak knows himself so well that he doesn’t need anyone, or he’s going to ask the rest of his team for help because you always need someone who makes you go to areas where you wouldn’t go on your own and that training methods allow you to explore.
Between the two, everything is possible. I imagine that this association will bring things to Djokovic. Afterwards, there is a physical and energetic reality, in the order of things, which means that it will be hard for him, and also for some against him!”
Nole will face Delpo tomorrow
Before starting his preparation for next season, the 37-year-old from Belgrade is participating in some events related to his sponsors.
The current world number 7 has just signed a new partnership with Qatar Airways, which is why he was in Doha these days. Having become an ambassador for Qatar Airways, Novak could play in the prestigious tournament in Doha next month (of which the airline is the main sponsor).
Novak Djokovic, Doha 2019© Stream screenshot
The Australian Open will take place at Melbourne Park from 12 to 26 January, while the Doha ATP will be played from 17 to 23 February.
The Serbian will fly to Buenos Aires right now, because tomorrow there will be the exhibition match between him and Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentine will play the last match of his career in front of his fans, although in reality his last tournament on the professional tour had been in Buenos Aires in 2022. Djokovic and Delpo have always maintained an excellent relationship all these years and it was the Serbian who proposed this match to the Argentine.
Everyone wants to understand whether the collaboration between Djokovic and Murray will be successful or not.
On the latest edition of his podcast, Andy Roddick revealed that the 3-time Grand Slam champion had turned down several offers before Nole’s call: “I’ve heard, and it’s not my place to say, top players — male and female — Andy Murray has said no to many over these past four months.
The other people who were asking were on the top of the pile too. They were high-high-high ranked men and women from what I’ve heard.”
Tennis World USA