How Andy Murray reacted to Novak Djokovic’s shock offer to become his coach

In an unexpected move, Novak Djokovic has revealed that former rival Andy Murray will join his team as a coach for the upcoming Australian Open.

The announcement has taken the tennis world by surprise, especially since Murray retired in 2023 after battling injuries for years.

Murray, 37, had been speculated to transition into coaching following his retirement after the 2023 Olympics.

However, the news that he would be working with Djokovic, 37, as part of his coaching team has caught many off guard. The two have faced off in some of tennis’ most memorable matches, including four Australian Open finals, with Djokovic prevailing in each of them.

In an interview with Sky Sports at the Qatar Grand Prix, Djokovic explained that he began searching for a new coach after parting ways with his long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier in the year.

“I was thinking about what I need at this stage of my career,” said Djokovic.

“The perfect coach for me would be someone who’s been through similar experiences, a former world number one, and a multiple Grand Slam winner.”

Andy Murray’s name came up

When the idea of Murray came up, Djokovic took the initiative to reach out.

“It caught him a little off guard, but we connected quickly,” he said.

“He accepted after a few days, and I’m really excited about it.”

Djokovic, who struggled in 2023 without winning a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017, hopes that Murray’s vast experience and insight will help him return to the top of the men’s game. With younger stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominating, Djokovic is focused on reclaiming his spot as a top contender for Grand Slam titles.

“I still have big plans,” Djokovic added.

“As long as I can be one of the candidates for the biggest titles, I’ll keep going. That’s why I asked Andy to work with me.”

This surprising partnership between Djokovic and Murray is generating excitement in the tennis world, as fans eagerly anticipate what impact it may have on both players’ careers heading into the Australian Open.