December 29th 2024.
Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam winner, has recently made a major change in his career by hiring Andy Murray as his new coach. Despite their long-standing rivalry on the court, Djokovic has been enjoying working with Murray. However, he also admitted that it feels strange to reveal his secrets to someone he has been competing against for years.
Murray, who only stepped away from playing at this summer's Olympics, was a surprise hire by Djokovic in November, just before the Australian Open. Djokovic had been without a full-time coach since parting ways with Goran Ivanisevic in March earlier this year. This change in his coaching team came after a frustrating 2024 season, where he failed to win a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017.
Although Murray will not be in Djokovic's box for the upcoming Brisbane International, the two spent ten days together before Djokovic flew out to Australia. In an interview with the ATP website, Djokovic opened up about their new partnership and confessed that it took some time to get used to certain aspects of their relationship.
"It's actually great to be on the same side of the net for a change because he's been one of my greatest rivals," Djokovic said. "But it was also strange to share my thoughts and insights about my game with someone who has always been my top rival."
Despite not having Murray by his side in Brisbane, Djokovic is confident that his game will benefit from Murray's fresh perspective. "I'm thankful that he accepted to work with me here in Australia," he added. "The 10 days we spent together were terrific. He's very meticulous, dedicated, and professional."
Djokovic also believes that Murray's unique perspective, as someone who has played against him and other top players on the tour, will be valuable. He is looking forward to their partnership and is certain that Murray's champion mentality will complement his own.
"I think he's bringing a new look to my game, and I'm sure I'll benefit from it on the tennis court," Djokovic said. "But also, his champion mentality will match well with mine."
As he prepares for his first-round match at the Brisbane International, Djokovic will also be partnering with Nick Kyrgios in the doubles competition. The Australian is gearing up for his Grand Slam return in Melbourne next month, and Djokovic is excited to see what they can achieve together.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
