Why Andy Murray could be Novak Djokovic’s secret weapon in his bid for Aussie glory, writes DAN EVANS
Andy Murray will coach former rival Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open
Djokovic has entrusted Murray with helping him to win at the Grand Slam
Murray can bring an intense level of analysis that will help Djokovic
I was as excited as everyone else to hear the news that Andy Murray will be coaching Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. It makes sense for Andy – three weeks in the Aussie summer when the weather back home is rubbish for golf!
As for Novak, he’s not stupid, he hasn’t just picked him because it’s going to make the headlines – Andy is going to be a great coach.
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He’s pretty obsessive about everything he does – including his golf – and this will be no exception. He loves the stats as well and obviously has an incredible work ethic.
Talking to Andy about the game is totally different to anyone else: his level of tactical insight and his attitude. I remember before one Davis Cup match a few of us were talking about the tie and we said, ‘Yeah Andy will beat this guy’. Andy got wind of it and wasn’t happy. He said, ‘No, this guy is dangerous and this is how he can beat me,’ and then he breaks down the guy’s game.
He will bring that level of analysis to each opponent. Novak dropped a few sets he probably shouldn’t have last year in the early round of Grand Slams so maybe Andy can help in that area so he can be more fresh at the business end.
It’s great that Andy will be back on the tour and, while it’s Novak getting his services at the moment, why can’t a British player reach out to him? I’d like to see that, he’d be a great acquisition for any British player. In the big events and the build-up, no one knows how to prepare for a Grand Slam better than him so for a Brit to have Andy, perhaps alongside their usual coach, could be a priceless resource.
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Andy Murray will be coaching his former opponent Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open
He dropped a few sets he probably shouldn’t have last year in the early round of Grand Slams
Murray will bring an intense level of analysis that has impressed those he has played with
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And that’s what Andy will be: a resource. I don’t think he’s ever going to be a full-time coach, travelling 30-40 weeks of the year. He needs time away from tennis with his family and his golf, he’s enjoying retirement.
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But these short stints around a Grand Slam will be perfect for him and long may it continue because he’s really missed on the tour. Hopefully he’ll be around for Indian Wells because that’s always a good golfing trip!
It’s a smart move from Novak. Andy can give him that reassurance about his ability but also, if things are not quite right in training or matches, Andy will have no qualms about saying that to him and I think that hasn’t always been the case with people who have coached Novak previously.
Andy will know all about any areas of Novak’s game that people might be able to exploit. They will have sat down and talked about their matches, what their tactics were against each other – everyone will want to have been a fly on the wall for that discussion.
I’m a fan of Novak. I’d like to see him get another Grand Slam title and the fact he has brought Andy in shows he still has a lot of hunger to do well. It feels like he was written off a bit last year, which is crazy.
He probably didn’t play enough tennis last year but we sometimes forget, these guys around his age have a lot of other stuff to deal with. Novak’s married, he has two kids, I’m sure he wants to be spending more time at home but then he has seen other people pick up his trophies and thought, right, let’s have a real go at it this year.
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It says a lot that he played Brisbane last week. Andy wasn’t with him but let’s not kid ourselves, even though he was on holiday he will have been watching every shot Novak played.
A lot of tennis fans have taken Novak the wrong way but in the last few years they’ve really started to appreciate him and now his battles with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, there’s a storyline there and I think he’s using it for a bit of motivation.
Djokovic will be fresh in Australia and if he’s fully wound up – and now with Andy in his corner – that’s a dangerous, dangerous tennis player
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There are a lot of comparisons with Sinner and Alcaraz to Djokovic, Nadal, Federer but, hang on, we’re a long way off that at the minute and Novak has plenty more to say about the game.
He will be fresh in Australia and if he’s fully wound up – and now with Andy in his corner – that’s a dangerous, dangerous tennis player.
Would I ever go into coaching myself? I have thought about it. I would like to help the British players. I think I have something to offer, I think I know quite a bit about the game but it would have to be the right player at the right time.
Ever wondered how a tennis player spends the festive season? I flew out on the 23rd and my girlfriend Aleah stayed at home. On Christmas Eve I took a short flight to Canberra to prepare for the Challenger event there, so on Christmas Day I just wandered around a very empty city on my own. It’s just the life of a tennis player – I haven’t had a proper Christmas at home since Covid.
Andy Murray
Novak Djokovic
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