‘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.
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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 tꦅimes 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.
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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 thinღking 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 co🌳ach and, if yes, who that’s going to be and the profile of the coach.
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“We were going through names and I realised that the perfect coach for me at this point would be someone who has b❀een through the experiences I am going through, possibly a multiplꦍe 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.
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“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’tౠ expecting it.
“We connected really fast and he accepted it after a few days. I can’t be mꦿore 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 b𒀰eing a great tactician and student of the game, it will definitely be interestin💯g 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.
“He needs a st❀rategist, an IQ mind that he can bounce꧙ 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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