" Djokovic is hoping to maintain his partnership with Murray through Wimbledon. 2025

 

Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis star, recently confirmed that his British counterpart Andy Murray had to carefully consider whether to continue their coaching partnership after their initial experience together. Djokovic expressed his enthusiasm in praising Murray, particularly after their first joint tournament at the Australian Open. The tournament was a significant milestone, as Djokovic secured a win over Spain's Carlos Alcaraz on his way to the semifinals. Unfortunately, Djokovic had to withdraw from the tournament due to a hamstring injury, but he spoke highly of the experience they shared.

Murray, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working alongside Djokovic but admitted that it was more challenging than he had initially expected. Leaving Australia, Murray felt as though he had a lot to learn from the partnership. Despite the difficulties, Murray committed to spending more time traveling with Djokovic. As of now, he is in California with Djokovic, preparing for the "double challenge" at two prestigious tournaments: Indian Wells and Miami.

In a press conference ahead of his opening match in California, Djokovic shared his thoughts on the partnership, stating that he hoped they could continue their journey with the same passion and energy they had when they finished at the Australian Open. He mentioned that he had expressed his desire to keep the momentum going with Murray, but acknowledged that Murray needed time to reflect on their collaboration. "For him, he needed some time to go back, think about the partnership, and talk to his friends and family to understand his level of commitment and whether he could travel with me and work according to the schedule," Djokovic explained.

Djokovic further elaborated on his happiness that Murray decided to continue their partnership, at least for the upcoming events at Indian Wells and Miami, and even for the majority of the clay-court season. Both players had agreed to evaluate their collaboration after the Miami Open, but Djokovic expressed confidence in the partnership, stating that the plan was to continue working together until the end of the French Open (Roland Garros). He also mentioned that he hoped they would be able to continue through Wimbledon, a tournament that both players have historically performed well in.

While the professional relationship between Djokovic and Murray is still in its early stages, Djokovic conveyed that he is thoroughly enjoying the process of working with Murray. He acknowledged that they are still getting to know each other on the court in a completely different context than when they had been fierce rivals for the past 25 years. "I still feel like we're in a process of getting to know each other on the court in a way that's different from how we've known each other for 25 years. So it's clearly a new job for him," Djokovic said.

Looking ahead, Djokovic will face Botic van de Zandschulp in his opening match at the tournament in California, marking the start of another exciting chapter in his collaboration with Murray.