- Shock news sees Djokovic praise arrival of ‘one of his greatest rivals’ in his team
- Pair have faced off in four finals in Melbourne – all won by the Serbian superstar
- Murray retired this summer after doubles with Dan Evans at the Olympics
Andy Murray shocked the tennis world on Saturday night as he announced he will coach Novak Djokovic in one of the most sensational appointments in the sport’s history.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, who retired from playing in August after a glittering 19-year career, will be part of his long-time rival’s coaching set-up for January’s Australian Open.
‘I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals,’ said Murray.
Djokovic beat Murray in four Australian Open finals, a competition he has won 10 times on his way to 24 Grand Slam titles.
The Serb posted the surprise news on social media with the caption: ‘He never liked retirement anyway’.
Coaching had always seemed the next natural step for Murray but to begin his career alongside the most successful men’s player in history is a huge shock.
Novak Djokovic will team up with former rival Andy Murray for this year’s Australian Open
Djokovic beat Murray in four Australian Open finals, and in 25 of their 36 meetings overall
The pair also played doubles together at the tournament in the early stages of their career
‘We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits,’ said Djokovic.
‘We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner.’
Djokovic endured a difficult season, failing to win a major in a calendar year for the first time since 2017, but he did win a long-awaited gold medal at the Olympics, which he described as his ‘greatest achievement’.
Murray called time on his career at the Paris Games after reaching the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles with Dan Evans.
The Scotsman famously twice beat Djokovic in Grand Slam finals — to lift the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 — and succeeded him as world No 1 in 2016.
It was Djokovic, though, who would have the edge over Murray in Grand Slam finals, beating him in Australia in 2011, 2013, 2015 and then in 2016 as well as at the French Open in the same year.
