No. 1 + No. 1 = 27 Grand Slams: Djokovic Signs ‘Rival, Friend’ Murray As New Coach

By Barry Janoff

Photo: Djokovic/MuirrayNovember 23, 2024: Stating that they would be “on the same side of the net for a change,” former world No. 1 and 24-time tennis Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic said he has hired former world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam winner and two-time gold medal winner Andy Murray as his new coach.

Murray, who retired from the pro tour after the Paris Summer Olympics, will work with Djokovic during the current off-season and through the Australian Open (Jan. 14-28, 2025), where Djokovic will try earn his 11th title and 25th Grand Slam overall.

They will then re-evaluate the alliance.

"I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net as my coach," Djokovic posted to social media. "Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy, with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil."

They first played each other at the junior level. The two have faced each other 36 times at the pro level, with Djokovic winning 25 times, including four times in the Australian Open finals (2011, 2015, 2015, 2016).

Murray defeated Djokovic in the 2012 U.S. Open and 2013 Wimbledon.

“We played each other since we were boys — 25 years of being rivals,” posted Djokovic.

“Of pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game-changers, risk-takers, history-makers.

“I thought our story may be over — turns out it has one final chapter.”

This past March, Djokovic said he and Goran Ivanisevic, his coach of six years, had parted ways.

The player-coach alliance between two top-ranked tennis pros is not new for Murray: He was coached by tennis icon Ivan Lendl for seven years over three separate times.

“I’ll be joining Novak’s team during the preparation period, helping him get in the best possible shape for the Australian Open," Murray posted to social media.

Photo: ATP"I’m very excited about it and I am looking forward to being on the same side of the net for a change. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to assist him in achieving his goals for the coming year."

Djokovic, 37, has earned more than $185 million in his pro career in singles and doubles.

Murray, 37, has earned nearly $65 million in singles and doubles. He won the gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

They are part of what is regarded as tennis’ Golden Era Fab Four over the past three decades, also including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

With Nadal’s retirement this month at the Davis Cup, Djokovic is the last on the pro tour.

After his final match, Murray smiled during an interview, “(I) never even liked tennis anyway."

In a separate interview, he said, “I’d probably be more comfortable sitting up there in a coaching box than somewhere else.”

As part of his new post, Djokovic offered, “He never liked retirement anyway . . .

"It's time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach Andy Murray.”

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