Novak Djokovic has now hired formal rival and longtime friend Andy Murray for the upcoming Australian Open 2025. After splitting up with coach Goran Ivanisevic of six years earlier this summer, it seems like the 24-time Grand Slam champion is counting on his friend Andy Murray (who retired after the Paris Olympics) for the new season.
Despite bagging a gold in the Olympics, 2024 remains to be ‘not so great’ for Djokovic. He wasn’t able to get his hands on any of the Grand Slams, losing to young talents Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
For the uninitiated, Jannik Sinner won the 2024 Australian and US Opens, while on the other hand, Alcaraz was able to bag Wimbledon and the French Open.
Now that two of the Big 3 are retired from the sport, Novak Djokovic seems to be the only active player from their era to still compete against the younger up-and-rising players. In Melbourne, Djokovic will be seeking his 25th Grand Slam title. And who’s better than Murray to prepare him for the ultimate challenge?
In a video available on his website, Novak Djokovic said, “We played each other since we were boys. Twenty-five years of being rivals. Of pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game-changers, risk-takers, history-makers.”
The rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray
Murray and Djokovic have come face-to-face a total of 36 times on the ATP Tour, with Djokovic leading with 25 wins. They played in seven Grand Slam finals, with Djokovic victorious in five of them.
While making the hiring announcement and welcoming Murray to his team, Djokovic revealed how he thought that their story may be over, but now it seems like there is that one final chapter remaining. He even called Murray his “toughest opponent,” who has now stepped into his corner to prepare for the next season.
He said, “I thought our story may be over. It turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard, coach Andy Murray.”
With that being said, do you think Novak Djokovic will be able to defeat these younger generations to claim his 25th Grand Slam title? Well, only time will tell.
