In a July 25 YouTube interview, Andy Murray described his experience coaching Novak Djokovic as unique but not necessarily enjoyable.
"Novak is very technically demanding, and that's something I wasn't comfortable with," Murray revealed. "It felt like teaching someone technique. I think every player has technical weaknesses, but it’s easier to coach younger players."
According to Murray, Djokovic’s relentless pursuit of technical perfection, sometimes to an extreme, created a tense atmosphere. The former Scottish player prefers to focus on the mental aspects, especially when guiding a technically proficient player like Djokovic.
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Djokovic (left) and Murray during a meeting before the 2025 Australian Open, at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Reuters |
Djokovic (left) and Murray during a meeting before the 2025 Australian Open, at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Reuters
Djokovic's high technical demands may stem from his success after hiring Goran Ivanisevic, who helped him transform his serve into a powerful weapon late in his career. Ivanisevic left in 3/2024 after contributing to 12 of Djokovic's Grand Slam titles.
The connection between Murray and the rest of Djokovic's coaching team was also reportedly lacking. At the Australian Open, Djokovic consistently spoke Serbian with his compatriots, leaving Murray feeling isolated. In a video about Djokovic at the tournament, Murray had to speak English to an assistant in the coaching area, who then relayed the information to Djokovic in Serbian.
Murray's six-month venture with Djokovic ended without concrete results. During this time, Murray primarily worked with Djokovic at Grand Slam and Masters 1000 tournaments. Their best results were the Australian Open semi-finals and the Miami Open final.
In early May, Djokovic announced the end of his partnership with Murray. The 24-time Grand Slam champion then competed in the Geneva Open with fellow Serbians Dusan Vemic and Boris Bosnjakovic. He ended a year-long title drought and reached the milestone of 100 ATP Tour titles. Djokovic also reached the semi-finals of two Grand Slams at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
"He called and asked if I wanted to coach him," Murray recounted how his close friend approached him last year. "I never imagined it. Honestly, I enjoy being at home, but I also wanted to see if I’d like the job. I wanted to experience it, and now I’m not sure I do."
Murray and Djokovic are longtime friends. They appeared alongside Roger Federer at Roland Garros in May for Rafael Nadal's tribute ceremony.
Vy Anh
