British tennis icon Andy Murray has announced that he will be coaching former long-time rival Novak Djokovic up to and during the 2025 Australian Open.
The three-time Grand Slam champion called time on his professional career after the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he and Dan Evans reached the quarter-finals of the men's doubles competition.
Meanwhile, Djokovic split with long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic in March 2024, and the 24-time major winner will now be guided by Murray for the off-season and throughout next year's Australian Open.
Announcing the news in a statement, Djokovic said: "I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. 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."
Murray added: "I'm going to be joining Novak's team in the off season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open. I'm really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals."
Djokovic failed to win a single major title in the 2024 season, but the Serbian could clinch an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam crown at the 2024 Australian Open; his current haul of 24 singles titles is the joint-most in history alongside Margaret Court.
Novak Djokovic vs. Andy Murray head-to-head record
He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024
An announcement that sent shockwaves across the world of tennis and sport as a whole, Murray's partnership with Djokovic will see the two 37-year-olds join forces after an on-court rivalry that spanned 16 years.
Murray and Djokovic crossed paths 36 times at the top level, and the Serbian had the Briton's number more often than not, defeating Murray 25 times while suffering 11 defeats to his new mentor.
However, two of Murray's triumphs against Djokovic saw the 37-year-old win the two most significant titles in his career, as he overcame the Serbian in the 2012 US Open final and 2013 Wimbledon showpiece.
Murray also came up trumps in their 2012 Olympic semi-final before beating Roger Federer in the final, as well as conquering Djokovic in five ATP 1000 Masters finals and the 2016 ATP Finals championship match.
The 24-time major winner got the better of Murray in no fewer than five Grand Slam finals, though, sinking the Briton in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open championship matches, in addition to the French Open showpiece in the latter year.
After trying for almost a decade to prevent Djokovic from winning Grand Slam titles, Murray will now be aiding his fellow 37-year-old's quest for a slice of history at the 2025 Australian Open, which runs from January 12 to 26.
Ben Knapton
