Novak Djokovic appoints old rival and fellow 'game-changer' Andy Murray as coach

Novak Djokovic announced on Saturday that his retired longtime rival Andy Murray is joining the 24-time Grand Slam winner's coaching team starting at the Australian Open in January. “I'm thrilled to have one of my biggest rivals at the net with me, this time as my coach. I'm looking forward to starting the season with Andy and having him with me in Melbourne, where we “Shared many extraordinary moments throughout our careers,” he said in a statement.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, who retired from competitive tennis at the Olympics in August, said: “I'm very excited about it and looking forward to being on the same side of the net for a change.

“I am also grateful for the opportunity to help her achieve her goals for the upcoming year.”

Djokovic posted a video on his and Murray's exes during the Scotsman's playing career, jokingly captioning it: “He never liked retirement anyway.”

The 37-year-old Serb has won the Australian Open a record 10 times, defeating Murray in four Melbourne finals.

Djokovic failed to win a Grand Slam in 2024 and dropped to seventh in the world, although he won the Olympic singles title in Paris, a victory he described as his “biggest achievement”.

Jannik Sinner, who would finish the year as world number one, defeated him in the Australian Open semi-finals and Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in straight sets.

She is tied with Margaret Court for the most major singles titles by any player and would be keen to overtake the Australian in Melbourne.

Djokovic and Murray have faced each other 36 times in their careers, with the Serb winning 25 times.

Nineteen of these matches took place in finals, including seven in Slams.

For Murray, two of those major championship duels were important.

He won his first Grand Slam title with a five-set victory over his opponent at the 2012 US Open, while a year later, he became the first British man in 77 years to win Wimbledon with a straight sets victory in the final. All England Club.

“We've been playing with each other since we were boys – 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits. We've had some of the most epic battles in our sport,” Djokovic said on Saturday.

“They called us gamechangers, risk takers, history makers. I thought our story might be over. Turns out, it has a final chapter. It's time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner “

Djokovic ended his coaching partnership with Goran Ivanisevic in March, despite winning 12 Slams together.

Former Wimbledon winner Ivanisevic admitted Djokovic is “not an easy guy” such is his intensity to make history in the sport.

“Especially when things aren't going their way. Sometimes it's very complicated,” Ivanisevic said after Djokovic won the 2023 French Open title.