Novak Djokovic has admitted it’s “strange” to have Andy Murray as his coach, but says it would be helpful to have one of his greatest rivals seeing his game in a “new light”. I believe it.
Murray, who retired after the Paris Olympics at the age of 37, made the shocking decision to join Djokovic’s team last November and recently spent 10 days with Serbia preparing for the new season.
Murray will not be with Djokovic at this week’s Brisbane International, but the two-time Wimbledon champion will join him in Melbourne for training ahead of the Australian Open.
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Djokovic explained why he chose former rival Murray as his new coach.
“Being on the same side of the net is actually good for a change because he was one of my biggest rivals,” Djokovic said. ATP website.
“It was strange in some ways to share all kinds of insights – how I feel on the court, what I’m going through, what I think, secrets about how I view the game – with someone who has always been one of my best rivals.
“But I am so happy and grateful that he has agreed to work with me here in Australia.
“We really enjoyed the 10 days we spent together. It was enjoyable in every way. He is very thorough, dedicated and professional.
“He’s one of the best rivals I’ve ever had and he has a unique perspective on my game. He knows my game’s strengths and weaknesses.
“He’s also been playing on tour until recently, so he knows all the best players in the world right now, the young players, the weaknesses and strengths of their games. So I’m looking forward to that, I really am.”
“I think he’s bringing a new look to my game and I can definitely benefit from him on the tennis court. He also has that champion mentality, so we’ll be a great match.”
Djokovic criticizes ‘lack of transparency’ in thinner doping case
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Nick Kyrgios has spoken out after Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner were both accused of doping.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner also spoke of his frustration at being “kept in the dark” about Jannik Sinner’s doping case, blaming the game’s authorities for double standards and a lack of transparency.
In August, Sinner was cleared of fault after failing two doping tests in March, and in November, Iga Swiatek was banned for a month after failing a test due to contaminated drugs.
“It’s not a good image or a good look for our sport,” Djokovic said. “I’ve been on the professional tour for over 20 years and I believe we’ve been one of the cleanest sports.
“I’m questioning how the system actually works and why certain players aren’t treated the same as others. The issue is inconsistency and transparency.
“We are not informed of Jannik’s case. We do not question whether he knowingly took a banned substance.
“I believe in clean sport. I believe that players will do everything possible to ensure fair play. I’ve known Jannik since I was very young. He doesn’t think of me as someone who would do that.”
“But like most players, it was really frustrating to see that we were kept in the dark for five months.”
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Take a look at Sinner’s best and biggest moments of 2024
The Olympic gold medalist will aim to win his 100th ATP singles title in Brisbane before going on to claim a record 11th Australian Open title and a record 25th Grand Slam.
