Djokovic admits it feels “strange” to share his tennis insights with Murray, despite their fierce rivalry, as the pair team up for the Australian Open
In an unexpected turn of events, Novak Djokovic has opened up about working with long-time rival Andy Murray as part of his coaching team. The 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted that having Murray, who retired from professional tennis in 2024, in his corner feels “strange” but believes the British legend’s insights could significantly benefit his game as he prepares for the new season.
The pair, who have faced off numerous times on court, recently spent ten days together training in preparation for the Australian Open, where Murray will join Djokovic once again in Melbourne. Djokovic expressed his gratitude towards Murray, praising his professionalism, meticulousness, and deep understanding of the game.
“It’s actually great for a change to be on the same side of the net because he’s been one of my greatest rivals,” Djokovic shared in an interview with the ATP website. “In a way, it was strange for me to share all these insights about how I feel on the court, sharing some of the secrets of what I’m going through, what I’m thinking about, and how I see my game with somebody that has always been one of the top rivals. But I’m so glad he accepted to work with me here in Australia.”
Djokovic continued to outline how Murray’s unique perspective, shaped by years of rivalry and recent experience on the tour, would provide a fresh approach to his own game. “Murray knows the pros and cons of my game. He’s played against all the best players currently on tour and knows their strengths and weaknesses. He has a fresh look at my game, and I’m confident I’ll benefit from that, no doubt, on the tennis court.”
While Djokovic expressed excitement about the partnership, he also revealed frustration regarding another issue that has been troubling the tennis world—the handling of doping allegations. Djokovic joined Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios in expressing disappointment at the lack of transparency in the cases of Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek.
In August, it was revealed that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March, though he was cleared of intentional wrongdoing. Then, in November, Swiatek received a one-month ban after a failed test caused by contaminated medication. Djokovic was vocal about the double standards, criticising the inconsistent treatment of players in these cases.
“It’s not a good image, not a good look for our sport,” Djokovic told Sky Sports. “We’ve been one of the cleanest sports for over 20 years. But I’m questioning the way the system works, why certain players aren’t treated the same as others. The inconsistency and lack of transparency are frustrating.”
He continued, addressing the Sinner case directly: “We’ve been kept in the dark. I’m not questioning whether Jannik took the banned substance intentionally or not. I believe in clean sport, and Jannik doesn’t strike me as somebody who would do such a thing. But it’s frustrating to see that we’ve been kept in the dark for five months.”
Djokovic’s comments shed light on the growing dissatisfaction among players regarding the management of doping allegations and the need for greater transparency in the sport.
