3 weeks ago
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NOVAK DJOKOVIC has already had his first ticking-off by new coach Andy Murray – weeks before the start of their incredible partnership.
The Serb, 37, is in Qatar for this weekend’s Grand Prix and caught up with F1 driver George Russell during a VIP visit to the Mercedes pit garage.
Andy Murray is now coaching Novak Djokovic
Djokovic was publicly called out by Andy Murray after attending the Qatar Grand PrixThis is the off-season for tennis aces but it will not be long before he flies to Melbourne for the Australian Open and begins working with old foe Murray.
When he found out the former world No.1 was at a Middle East motorsport event, Murray said: “He should be on the practice court.”
Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, responded: “Sorry coach, I will be back soon.”
Their new working agreement was announced last weekend and Djokovic caught Murray “off guard” when he asked the Brit to be his new coach at the start of 2025.
The Scotsman, 37, retired after the Paris Olympics, finally admitting defeat in his battle against injury.
Djokovic added: “This collaboration is a surprise to me as well, to everyone, but it’s exciting for tennis.
“I still will try to go strong because I feel like my body is serving me well. I still have motivation to win grand slams, make more history.
“That’s one of the biggest reasons why I asked Andy to work with me, because I still have big plans, so as long as that’s the case, I will keep going.
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The deal, thrashed out after a brain-storming meeting, is only for the Melbourne Slam but could continue beyond that if successful.
Djokovic beat Murray in four Aussie Open finals as well as the French Open final in 2016.
Murray won two of his three majors against Djokovic – at the 2012 US Open and Wimbledon in 2013.
But this is a difficult time in the Serb’s career, 2024 being his first calendar year without a Grand Slam win since 2017.
Andy Murray's career timeline
SIR Andy Murray is Great Britain's most successful tennis player of the Open era.
After breaking through in 2005 to reach the Wimbledon third round at 18, the Scot was British No1 by the following year.
In 2008 he reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, only to fall to Roger Federer in straight sets.
Two more final defeats at the Australian Open to Federer and Novak Djokovic followed in 2010 and 2011 before heartbreak at Wimbledon in 2012.
Despite taking the first set against Federer, he fell 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 in front of a home crowd before breaking into tears on Centre Court.
But a month later on the same court he beat the Swiss legend to earn Team GB a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
And weeks after that he broke his Grand Slam duck at the fifth attempt, beating Djokovic in five sets in the US Open final.
In 2013, following another Australian Open final loss, Murray beat Djokovic in straight sets to become the first British man in 77 years to win the Wimbledon title.
Three more losing Grand Slam finals followed, at the 2015 and 2016 Australian Opens and the 2016 French Open.
But in his third Grand Slam final of 2016, Murray won Wimbledon again with a straight sets victory over Canadian Milos Raonic.
He followed it up with his second Olympic gold medal, beating Juan Martin del Potro in a four-hour epic in the final in Rio de Janeiro.
Later in 2016 Murray became world No1 – the first British man to do so in history.
Over his career Murray reached 11 Grand Slam finals, winning three. He won two Olympic golds and a silver (in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson).
He finishes his career with 46 titles and over £50million in earnings, making him the fourth all-time leader in earnings.
His final match was at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he lost in the quarter-final of the men’s doubles at Roland Garros to USA pair Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz.
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