Andy Murray made headlines in November when he announced that he would join forces with Novak Djokovic as his coach.
However, the British tennis legend wasn’t seen in Brisbane during Djokovic’s first tournament of the season.
Instead, Murray was on a pre-planned family skiing vacation.
The Unexpected Absence
Murray’s absence from Djokovic’s first competition of the year raised some eyebrows.
Initially, their collaboration was set to be a short-term arrangement focused on pre-season training, with Murray also expected to assist Djokovic at the Australian Open starting January 2025.
Djokovic, who has faced Murray in four Australian Open finals, was already in Brisbane, competing in the Brisbane International, where he easily made it to the last 16 after a straight-sets victory over Australia’s Rinky Hijikata on New Year’s Eve.
When asked about his partnership with Murray, Djokovic revealed that his new coach wasn’t with him in Australia at the moment.
Despite the distance, Djokovic assured fans that he was still in touch with Murray regularly.
“He’s actually skiing at the minute,” Djokovic joked, sending his love to Murray and his family.
“I hope he doesn’t get injured skiing before he comes to Melbourne… that wouldn’t be great.”
Murray Responds on Social Media
Murray saw Djokovic’s comments and quickly took to social media to share a video of himself skiing.
He captioned it humorously, saying, “I’m taking on some huge slopes as you can see but no injuries just yet.”
Though Murray wasn’t expected to be with Djokovic in Brisbane, as reported in December, it’s anticipated that he will join his new charge for the Australian Open.
The prestigious tournament begins on January 12, and Murray is set to be in Djokovic’s corner for the event.
Djokovic Talks About Fresh Perspective from Murray
As the pair’s collaboration continues, Djokovic has spoken highly of the impact Murray’s involvement is having on his game.
“Being on the same side of the net is actually great for a change because he’s been one of my greatest rivals,” Djokovic said.
Reflecting on their unique coaching dynamic, Djokovic admitted that sharing insights about his on-court strategies with Murray—someone who has been one of his top rivals—was a strange but valuable experience.
Djokovic expressed his gratitude for Murray’s professionalism and attention to detail, noting that the time they spent together in Australia had been incredibly productive.
“The 10 days that we spent together were terrific. I enjoyed every bit of it,” Djokovic added.
“He’s very meticulous, very dedicated, so professional.”
A Champion’s Mentality
Djokovic went on to praise Murray’s deep understanding of the game.
As a recent player, Murray knows the strengths and weaknesses of the current top players, including the younger generation on tour.
Djokovic believes that Murray’s insights will provide a fresh perspective on his game, something that could prove invaluable for his performance in upcoming matches.
“He’s bringing a fresh look to my game, and I think I’ll be able to benefit from that, no doubt, on the tennis court,” Djokovic concluded.
“But also that kind of champion’s mentality that he has, I’m sure we’ll match very well.”