In a surprising development, retired tennis star Andy Murray has joined Novak Djokovic’s coaching team for the upcoming Australian Open. The two former rivals were recently seen practicing together in Melbourne, marking the beginning of their professional collaboration.
Murray, who retired from professional tennis in August 2024, has transitioned into coaching, with this partnership being his first major assignment. The collaboration began with a ten-day training period in Marbella, Spain, where Murray and Djokovic worked intensively to prepare for the tournament.
Their partnership has already shown promising results. During a practice session at Melbourne Park, Djokovic secured a 7-5 set victory against world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, indicating the positive impact of Murray’s coaching.
This collaboration is particularly noteworthy given the duo’s history as fierce competitors, especially at the Australian Open. Murray’s decision to coach Djokovic has generated significant interest and excitement within the tennis community. Djokovic, 37, is aiming to secure his 25th Grand Slam title at this tournament, and he has expressed gratitude for Murray’s meticulous approach and insights.
The Australian Open is set to commence on January 12, 2025, at Melbourne Park, with Djokovic seeking his 11th title at this event. The men’s final is scheduled for January 26.
As the tournament approaches, the tennis world will be keenly observing how this new player-coach dynamic influences Djokovic’s performance and whether it will lead to a record-breaking Grand Slam victory.
