Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray’s new player-coach partnership has faced criticism, with some accusing it of being more of a “PR stunt” than a genuine collaboration.
Last month, World No. 7 Djokovic announced that Murray, his former rival and fellow ex-World No. 1, would be working with him during the off-season and into the Australian swing of 2025. This news drew widespread attention, with many applauding Djokovic for seeking Murray’s insights ahead of what could be a pivotal season in his career.
Djokovic, who dropped six places in the rankings in 2024 and failed to win a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017, teamed up with Murray just months after the three-time Grand Slam champion retired from the sport in August.
However, not everyone is convinced by the partnership. Alexander Ostrovsky, a well-known agent and tennis academy owner, expressed skepticism in an interview with Championat, suggesting that the arrangement appears to be more about publicity than performance.
“I think, for now, this looks more like a PR stunt than a real partnership,” Ostrovsky remarked. “From a PR perspective, it’s certainly intriguing for the tennis world—people are eager to see Murray in Djokovic’s box. But how effective it will be? That’s hard to say. A lot will depend on Novak’s physical condition leading up to the Australian Open.”
Ostrovsky noted Djokovic’s ability to defeat younger players even at 37, adding, “The 2024 Olympic final showed that if Novak is motivated, he can achieve whatever he wants. But he’s not getting any younger, and you can’t cheat time. I don’t think Novak will dominate the tour in 2025.”
ATP Tour News
- John McEnroe playfully offered his own theory about why Murray took the coaching job with Djokovic, joking that Murray might just need a break from family life.
- Alexander Zverev opened up about his French Open injury, calling it the “toughest moment” of his career.
Despite a strong 2023 where Djokovic won three of the four major titles and went 27-1 at the Slams, his 2024 season was more challenging. He reached only one Grand Slam final, losing to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon. He was also upset in the Australian Open semifinals by Jannik Sinner, stunned in the third round of the US Open by Alexei Popyrin, and forced to withdraw from his French Open quarterfinal due to injury.
While many expected Djokovic to claim his historic 25th Grand Slam in 2024, that milestone will have to wait until 2025. The Serbian now faces stiff competition from rising stars like Sinner and Alcaraz, who dominated the Slams in 2024 and seem poised to control the ATP landscape in the years to come.
Despite his doubts about the Djokovic-Murray partnership, Ostrovsky still believes the Serb can make history. “I think Djokovic will win one more major,” he said. “Historically, the Australian Open is his best Slam. I expect his top performance to come in Melbourne next season.”
