Seeing Andy Murray cheering for his former rival on the court, Novak Djokovic might seem surreal. However, the friendship between the two champions goes way back to the days when they were both competing in juniors. Regardless of their fierce rivalry, Novak and Andy remained on good terms throughout their careers.
Once Murray retired after the Olympic games in Paris in 2024, he spoke about plans to immerse himself in his second beloved sport, golf. He was enjoying his sweet time on the golf course when the call from his pal Novak came asking him to join his team as a coach. Murray certainly had different visions for his retirement years, like spending time with his children and exploring other business ventures, but the offer was too tempting to pass.
Late last year, right before the Australian Open, Djokovic announced that Murray would be joining him as part of the coaching team. This took many tennis experts, tennis enthusiasts and sports betting fans by surprise. First, they were on the opposite sides of the net for so long, one would think that there’s nothing left from their friendly relationship. Second, Andy Murray never insinuated that he was even remotely interested in becoming a coach or doing anything else that had to do with tennis.
Still, the two formed a strong alliance based on an almost lifelong relationship, with many casting doubt about them working together instead of against each other. Regardless, both Novak and Andy expressed excitement about the upcoming season and were psyched to work on the same team.
It was a good partnership, while it lasted. Murray could offer his deep understanding of the game, while Djokovic had someone by his side whom he knew and trusted. It was a win-win, until it wasn’t. The business relationship lasted only six months after a string of lost matches and low performance. Andy decided to leave, and Novac wasn’t stopping him. Nevertheless, the two remain close friends with just another chapter in their lives closed resting on the shelf for good memories.
The Results of the Partnership
Early on, Murray and Djokovic showed some beams of light that this uncanny relationship might blossom into a great tactical teamplay. At the Australian Open, Djokovic reached the semifinals after beating Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters. This was clearly a success due to Murray’s input and influence on Djokovic’s play against the young Spaniard. Unfortunately, Djokovic had to retire in the semifinals against Zverev due to injury, ending his stint at the Grand Slam.
This was the most successful the Murray-Djokovic duo has ever been. There was a lot that could have been done sooner, or better, but here we are. After Melbourne, Djokovic went to Doha and lost in the first round to Number 30 on the ATP, Matteo Berrettini, 6-7 (4-7), 2-6.
After this drop in form, Novak lost in the second round in Indian Wells, California, to Botic Van De Zandschulp. This was a devastating blow to his morale, and Murray obviously had no solution on how to improve Novak’s fitness and stamina. The team had about a week to prepare for Miami, where Djokovic actually had some success, reaching finals. However, Djokovic lost to young 19-year old Czech Jakub Mensik 6-7 (4-7), 6-7 (4-7). The match was intense, but in the end it was a sobering experience for Djokovic. Young guns are stepping on the scene, mowing everything in front of them. There’s one thing that broadcasters and audience noticed in this match, Mensik was not intimidated, or in awe of the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Instead, he kept playing his game, chasing balls, hitting hard and with precision.
The Monte Carlo Master, and Madrid Open were both disastrous for Novak Djokovic. Losing in the second round of both tournaments, ten days before the Roland Garros was not a great sign to the experts, potential rivals, Novak’s team, or bettors who are not giving him a lot of chance of winning another Grand Slam. Instead, young players are taking over, Alcaraz, Zverev, Sinner, and many others. When Djokovic retires and joins Federer and Nadal in their quieter years, it’s going to be the end of an iconic era in tennis.
After so many losses, the split between Djokovic and Murray was inevitable. Both were aware that the partnership was not working out as expected, and they came to a mutual understanding that it would be best for both to part ways. And that’s exactly what happened. Novak thanked Andy for his support and hard work citing that their friendship will continue regardless of the outcome, while Murray thanked Djokovic for the opportunity to try his coaching skills in tennis. The decision was obviously amicable with both leaving without any hard feelings towards each other.
What Does the Future Hold for Novak Djokovic?
For this aging champion there’s nothing left to prove. He has 24 Grand Slams, 99 career titles, Olympic gold, the number one in prize money, and many more victories in various tournaments. Many are whispering that Novak is past his prime, which is true, but the question remains does he still have something to give to the sport? Djokovic thinks he does, and that’s the reason he is still on the court and not drinking margaritas in the Bahamas.
His odds of snatching another Grand Slam are dim, at least according to fans who bet on tennis on platforms like Stake.com, but he was never a quitter. Novak’s form is not the greatest and surely he feels the pressure from young players who are hungry to prove themselves. Still, Djokovic’s plans do not include retiring just yet. His preparations for Roland Garros are in full swing, and even though he had little success on clay this season, Novak Djokovic is eying that trophy.
For sure, Djokovic is aware of the influx of young players, but he’s not willing to pack his racquet just yet. On good days, Novak is still playing on the top-tier level even though he’s 38 years old. That’s double the age of Mensik, for example, who is only 19. We can all agree that he is aging, his body is not as flexible, and his serve is not as fast and strong, but surely there’s still power in that backhand and speed in his feet to maybe grab another title.
Lately, Novak Djokovic has been turning his attention to philanthropic work supporting young players in reaching their dreams. He is also a businessman with multiple ventures like restaurants, tennis schools and so on. Novak is famous for his holistic approach to life, food, and medicine, and was heavily scrutinized for it. However, he stayed true to his beliefs and still practiced a more natural way of living.
When Djokovic retires, it’s almost certain that he will stay in the sport in some capacity. For years, he was the president of the ATP Player Council, where he fought for players who were in lower positions on the list to have more funding and prize money. His struggles as a young tennis player taught him that besides drive, encouragement and love from your family, there needs to be a financial moment so that one can focus on the game instead of scuffling to pay for traveling expenses.
What’s Next for Andy Murray?
Murray had a great career as a tennis player but was always clear about his desire to expand as an athlete to other sports. He thoroughly enjoys golf and is an avid player. He made a splash at the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am in Wentworth and clinched victory at the BTJA Mike Dickson Golf Day at Hanbury Manor Golf Club. After retirement, that’s pretty much all he did, golfing and spending time with his four children and wife Kim.
Away from the tennis court and golfing, Murray dipped his toes into show business shortly after retiring in 2024, landing a new role in TV ads. He played an action hero racing through Melbourne, complete with an escape through a Chinatown restaurant window in true cinematic style. He spoke about the experience, saying that he is seeing Melbourne from a different angle despite playing in Australia so many times. Murray said that finally he has the time to explore the city and visit some tourist sites, while having fun on the set.
Was Murray a Smart Decision for Djokovic?
The teammates got together at the beginning of the 2025 season, with moderate success at the Australian Open, and the difficult season afterward. Clay was never Novak’s strong suit, like it was with Nadal, and with Alcaraz today, but no one expected the results to be so appalling. There were a few things that added to the ultimate failure of the partnership.
Firstly, Djokovic, in his prime, had a smashing return on the serve, often breaking his opponents. This year, Novak broke the serve once in every match which is a very poor statistic for a 24-time Grand Slam champion. It would be fun to see Murray coaching Djokovic in his prime. That could have been the winning combo. However, Djokovic is struggling to stay in the top five players, and with all young ones flooding the courts, it’s probably just a matter of time before Novak leaves the court one last time.
On the other hand, Murray was a great player, winning 3 Grand Slams, two of them on grass surfaces. But one thing was lacking with Andy’s experience as a coach. Not every champion can be a great coach and vice versa. Sometimes players are just that, without any deeper insight on how others work, and what are their weaknesses and strengths. Murray and Djokovic have known each other for a long time, but they never worked together. Couple that with Murray’s inexperience as a coach, and the results are not all that surprising. Experience comes with time, which Murray didn’t have.
The two champions parted ways before the season on grass began. Both of them are great on hard surfaces and grass, with some weakness on clay. However, neither one of them waited that long, and decided it was better to call it quits before Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic also chose to participate in the tournament in Geneva instead of the usual Rome and Madrid. This unusual decision probably did not sit well with Murray, but he just went along with the team.
In the end, both of them remain great champions and good friends. The stint of working together didn’t work out, but it was an amazing experience for both. Maybe this is just the beginning of Murray’s career off the court, as a coach, or part of the team of some other players. Andy also had some offers to join TV stations for broadcasting tennis matches, but no news on his decision yet. The only things he cares about now are golf and his family.
In golf, Murray started making some small steps, successes that could grow into something bigger. Only time will tell where that will lead. In the meantime, he is enjoying his family away from the public eye since his wife Kim is not very fond of being out and about.
Novak Djokovic is still on the court preparing for Roland Garros. He is also married and has two children. Is it a case that Father Time is finally catching up to the 24-time grand slam champion and one of the greatest players of all time? The answer is, it looks like it. Novak has been spending time in his home country of Serbia a lot lately, with his family and friends. He is practicing for the upcoming matches, but it seems like he has other interests. Novak is deeply involved in developing young talents in tennis, building courts and supporting young players. The future seems bright, regardless of his result at the French Open. He already has so many trophies, victories, and records. Novak Djokovic established himself as one of the greatest players a long time ago, so now he can truly enjoy the game without anything to prove.
