Novak Djokovic has named a new member to his coaching staff as he prepares to compete for his 25th Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open in January. The name of the new member? Andy Murray.
Yes, that Andy Murray. The British tennis player who won two Grand Slam trophies and retired from the sport last summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Helping coach his old rival is his first move since ending his playing career professional.
“I will be joining Novak’s team during the offseason, to help him prepare for the Australian Open,” Murray said in a statement. “I’m really excited and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the Australian Open as Novak for a change, helping him achieve his goals.
Djokovic and Murray, who are both 37 (they were born less than a week apart in 1987), were on-court rivals during Murray’s era in the early and mid-2010s. Djokovic has the advantage in his 36 career faceoffs, winning 25 to Murray’s 11. If you just look at the head-to-head finals, Djokovic has beaten Murray 11 times while Murray has beaten Djokovic eight times. But in Grand Slams, Djokovic absolutely owned Murray with an 8-2 record.
There are other secrets hidden in that 25-11 record. Murray has lost to Djokovic four times in six years in the Australian Open final (2011, 2015, 2015, 2016), which is why some might raise eyebrows at this decision. But beating a player doesn’t mean you have nothing to learn from them. Murray never won the Australian Open, but he reached the final five times, which means he was doing something right.
Djokovic mentioned his history at the Australian Open with Murray in his statement.
“I am delighted to have one of my biggest rivals on the same side of the net, as a coach,” Djokovic said. “I can’t wait to start the season and compete in Australia alongside Andy, with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on Australian soil.
This Aussie Open story, as well as their shared personal history as longtime competitors, are two things mentioned by Djokovic in a trending video that Djokovic narrated and posted on social media on Saturday, and were likely important factors in Djokovic’s decision to bring in Murray.
The Australian Open begins on January 12, 2025.