Novak Djokovic explains decision to hire Andy Murray as coach, says Brit knows his game

Novak Djokovic has shed light on his decision to appoint Andy Murray as his new coach. The Serbian said the Brit knows his strengths and weaknesses as they have been playing against each other since their junior days.

Djokovic parted ways with his former coach Goran Ivanisevic and since then he has been playing without a coach. The veteran could not win a single Grand Slam in 2024 and his year ended without a slam after seven years. However, the veteran won the elusive Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics, which was missing from his glittering cabinet.

Djokovic has revealed that he plans to work with Andy Murray for the Australian Open in 2025.

“Since I was very young, I have played against him … and there are not many people who have won multiple Grand Slam titles,” said Djokovic in Spanish in a news conference before the match against Del Potro.

Djokovic and Murray played against each other on 36 occasions on the tour, with the former having a 25-11 (W-L) record against the latter.

“He knows my game and everything that I have been through very well,” added Djokovic, currently No. 7 in the ATP rankings. “He knows the things that are wrong with my game, all of my mistakes.”

On the other hand, Djokovic played an exhibition match against Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro, who won the US Open in 2009 but retired recently after suffering from a career-ending knee injury. Del Potro registered a 6-4, 7-5 win against the Serbian.

“We played against each other in the biggest stages of our sport, but in the end our friendship was bigger than the rivalry,” added Djokovic. “We are here to celebrate Juan Martin’s career and to enjoy every moment.”