Andy Murray will coach Novak Djokovic entering 2025, and the comfort that a familiar face will bring to the Serbian’s camp has been lauded by one ex-pro.
Andy Murray will join forces with Novak Djokovic in 2025 (Image: Getty)
Former World No. 1 Jimmy Connors believes Andy Murray will guide Novak Djokovic into his ‘comfort zone’ as the pair join forces. The 24-time Grand Slam champion announced his decision to recruit Murray last month – a partnership set to last until at least the 2025 Australian Open.
After Murray’s emotional farewell to the court at Paris 2024 and Djokovic’s gold, which completed a career Golden Slam and ticked off one final box, both stars looked to be in limbo – especially as the Serb struggles to keep up with younger, heavily firing guns on the ATP Tour, such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Tennis fans were then taken aback in November when it was announced that the Scotsman would join Djokovic’s team heading into next season with a slam on the cards. Connors, who won eight major singles titles in his own right, feels that this move – whilst unexpected – may be precisely what 37-year-old Djokovic needs to get his psyche in order.
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“There comes a point in time in your later years where, if you feel comfortable and feel relaxed with the people around you, that allows you to go out and attempt to play your best tennis and give it your all,” Connors told Eurosport.
“If he [Djokovic] is around someone who he feels comfortable with now – not that those in the past he didn’t feel comfortable with – but as you get older, things change. Your mind changes, your outlook changes, your feelings change and all that. If you can go and be more relaxed going to the tennis court, it will allow you to play even better.
” They have competed against each other; they know each other’s game and have spent time together on and off the court. Maybe that is a good thing,” he concluded. “It also might only last a week, you don’t know. You have to give it a shot though, I like what he is doing.”
It was this previous competitiveness between the pair that Djokovic himself cited as reasoning for the decision – the Serbian star wanting an advisory voice who had experienced the big occasions as he has.
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Connors lauded Djokovic’s hiring of Murray (Image: Getty)
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“We were going through different names, and I realised the perfect coach for me at this point would be someone that has been through the experiences that I’m going through, possible multiple Grand Slam winner, former No. 1,” Djokovic admitted to Sky Sports.
“I was thinking about different people, and then an Andy Murray discussion appeared on the table between my team and me. It was still a shock decision. It caught him a little bit off guard as well because he wasn’t expecting it, so we connected really fast, and he accepted after a few days.
“He’s been one of my greatest rivals. We’re the same age. We’ve played in all the biggest stadiums in our sport. So, I can’t wait to get out on the court and prepare for next season. This collaboration is a surprise to me as well as to everyone. But it’s exciting for tennis.”
