Andy Murray has expressed his readiness to handle Novak Djokovic‘s intensity during high-pressure situations at the Australian Open. He believes the chance to coach Djokovic is a unique opportunity.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, surprised many by appointing Murray as his coach in November. This decision came shortly after Murray retired from professional tennis.
Murray, also a former world number one, revealed that Djokovic’s offer was unexpected. He has known Djokovic since their junior playing days.
“I said to him: ‘Look, I need to think about it and talk to my family,’”
Murray consulted his family before accepting the coaching role. He ultimately decided it was a valuable experience.
“So I spoke to them and after a couple of days I thought that it was a pretty unique opportunity and experience.”
“I thought it would be a good idea to try it.”
Both Murray and Djokovic are considered part of the “Big Four” in tennis. This group also includes Rafael Nadal, who retired last year, and Roger Federer, who retired in 2022. Murray himself is a three-time Grand Slam champion and a five-time Australian Open finalist.
The two players have a long history of rivalry, having played each other 36 times. Djokovic holds the advantage with 25 wins.
A significant number of their matches, 19, were finals. Both players are known for their on-court interactions with their coaching teams, especially during crucial moments.
Now, Murray finds himself in a different position, potentially on the receiving end of Djokovic’s intensity.
“I know it’s not easy out there – it’s stressful and at times he’s going to want to vent towards his team and his box,”
Murray expressed his understanding of the pressures of professional tennis. He emphasized his willingness to support Djokovic’s expressions of frustration, as long as Djokovic is giving his full effort.
“Providing that he’s giving his best effort and trying as hard as he can, I’m absolutely fine with him expressing himself how he wants.”
Djokovic is aiming for his 11th Australian Open title and a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam victory. Murray stressed that his role is not simply to enjoy the tournament.
“At times it’s very enjoyable. But high performance is not supposed to be laughs and jokes and messing around,”
Murray shared his perspective on the seriousness of high-level competition. He pointed out that top players rarely exhibit a casual approach.
“In all the times I’ve been on tour, I haven’t seen that from any of the best players in the world.”
“I’ve seen it from some of the lower-ranked players, and that’s one of the reasons why they’re not there.”
