Coach Andy Murray not expected to join Novak Djokovic for Brisbane International
Novak Djokovic will commence his 2025 playing season at the Brisbane International without his newly appointed coach, Andy Murray.
The partnership between the two former rivals came as a shock, something tennis fans thought they'd never see.
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The pair met 36 times during their♉ career, with Djokovic coming out on t♑op 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.
Djokovic had something of a lean 2024 having failed to win a Grand Slam title in a season for the first time since 2017, although he did clinch Olympic gold in the men's singles in Paris.
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The Serbian has committed to arriving in Australia early to 🀅prepare for the y🐓ear’s first major tournament, which begins on January 12.
H🔯e will take part in the Brisbane International, which kicks off on December 29, for the first time since ꦅ2009.
Djokovic told : “I’m excited to be kicking off my Australian swing at the Brisbane Inter🎉national and to compete again at Pat Rafter Arena.🦹”
“I am looking forward to experiencing the incredible support from ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚthe Australian fans and making this tournament one to remember.”
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Murray won the title in Briꦰsbane in 2012 and 2013 but according to the PA news agency, he is currently not expected to accompany Djokovic for the tr⛎ip.
Murray was due to help Djokovic during pre-season training and at the Australian Open.
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Djokovic, whose ranking has dropped to seventh, will bid to win a record-breaki🌠ng 25th Grand Slam title at Melbou♍rne Park.
Speaking in Qatar ahead of last week’s Formula 1 Grand Prix in Lusail, the Serbian explained ho♒w he united with Murray, and confessed Sir Andy was ‘caught off guard.’
“I was going through a process of thinking about next season in the last c✤ouple of months𒀰,” he said.
“I was trying to figure out what I need at this stage of my career because I stopped with my [former]ဣ coach Goran Ivanisevic, who I was very successful with and worked for many years, in March.
“So I took about six month♒s 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 h🧜as been through the experiences I am going through, possibly a multiple Grand Slam winner, a former [world] no.1.
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“I was thinking about different people and a discussion about Andy Murray appeared on the table with me and my team.
“W⛎e 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 fast and he accepted it after a few days. I ca꧅n’t be more excited about it.”
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, 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.
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Murray hanging up his racquet came the same year Rafael Nadal also an🌟nounced the conclusion of his career on the court.
Leaving Djokovic as the last 'big four' superstar standing after Roger Federer's retirement in 2022.
Andy Roddick on why Novak Djokovic turned to ꦯAndy Murray as his coach for Australian Open
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