Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, a not-so-surprising alliance | Did you see?

Novak Djokovic surprised the tennis world by announcing that his former great rival Andy Murray was becoming his coach for the coming months. The two will now work on the same side of the net after almost two decades of competing against each other.

It seems surprising at first, because they are two great rivals. And then, because Murray just retiredmentions former player Vincent Millot, who became a coach and analyst at the Sports Network (RDS).

But I think these are two people who can accomplish great things together. I think Djokovic is at a point where he needs someone like Murray to tell him sometimes, ‘Sit down, calm down and listen to me because I’ve been there.’

Both legends are 37 years old. Seven days separate their date of birth. But they are no longer at the same point on a sporting level and no longer share the same ambitions.

Murray hung up his racket at the conclusion of the Paris Olympics, which fittingly ended with Djokovic’s singles triumph.

The Scot changes hats less than four months after bowing out. His transition should, however, be smooth, according to former player Frédéric Niemeyer, who also experienced this career change.

That he did it so quickly, that he didn’t take a little break before returning to his suitcases, that surprised me a little.he said, before praising Murray’s great qualities as a tactician. But he was already preparing. He had already mentioned that he was interested in coaching.

Sylvain Bruneau, former Canadian women’s national coach, was not surprised to see Murray quickly find a new challenge.

He has such a love of tennis, I expected to see him stick around the courts for it. I was convinced he was going to become a coach. But that his very first contract is with the best player in history, with Novak Djokovic, that surprises me a little!he indicates.

According to him, this should be seen as a sign that the Serb absolutely did not want to miss the chance to rally an old rival to his cause.

It shows the great respect that Djokovic has for Murray, for what he has accomplished as a player, for his tactical sense. He has a great understanding of the sport. Murray was really good at maximizing his abilities, he was good at digging deep within himself. Djokovic probably decided that this is what he neededmentions Sylvain Bruneau.

If Djokovic brings him out of retirement so quickly, it is because he believes that Murray has the necessary qualities to help him down the stretch.

Because Djokovic is about to write the final chapters of his long career that began in 2004 on the ATP circuit.

Twenty years later, in addition to his Olympic gold medal, he had a rather disappointing 2024 season, by his standards. He failed to win a grand slam tournament for the first time in seven years. Last March, he parted ways with his long-time coach, Goran Ivanisevic, with whom he had worked since 2018.

Murray will bring wisdom, resilience and strategy

Novak Djokovic will begin the year 2025 as the last representative of the famous Big Threewith the retirement of Rafael Nadal (Roger Federer has retired since 2022). But her quest for a 25th major title, which would allow her to no longer share the record of 24 with Margaret Court, will not be without obstacles. The new guard, led by the young Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, stands before him.

This is, among other things, why he turns to Murray, one of the few to have succeeded in interrupting the domination of Big Three between 2012 and 2016, with three major victories, including two against Djoko.

The three speakers interviewed by - Sports offer a different answer when asked what Murray can bring to an athlete who already has everything, or almost everything.

Ivanisevic helped him a lot with his serve, making it his main weapon. Djokovic really managed to improve this aspect under his guidance. Murray will bring him a different type of supportsays Niemeyer, who is now a high-performance coach and consultant.

He will be able to benefit from the background of Murray, who has long faced players faster than him. He’s a guy with a lot of experience, with everything he’s been through with injuries.explains Niemeyer.

Alcaraz, he brings incredible speed. The young people on the circuit currently have the power, speed of movement and execution. Murray was the pro at that, he was good at slowing down the pace of the other. He beat Federer not because he played faster than him, but because he forced him to slow down.

Vincent Millot was able to rub shoulders with both men during his career. He faced Andy Murray once, before meeting him again on several occasions off the court.

What he has done over the last three years is exceptional. I saw him walking in the corridors after his operations, and I told myself that it was impossible for him to set foot on the field again. And then he returned to the top 100he emphasizes.

This is a source of motivation that could inspire Djokovic in difficult times, according to the Frenchman now established in Quebec. He will be able to find a kind of enthusiasm at his side. Murray will be able to boost him in difficult moments. I think it’s more this type of supervision that he’s looking for.

We must not forget Murray’s qualities as a tactician, recalls Sylvain Bruneau. The honorary member of a certain Big Four will come with a lot of privileged knowledge.

He knows what it’s like to face Djokovic. He has already beaten him, although he has lost more often. He can say to him: “When you do this or that sequence, it gave me a lot of difficulty.” Or even the opposite: “When you go with such a scenario, I felt that I could gain the upper hand.”

Information that will be worth its weight in gold during major tournaments.

Djokovic could benefit not only from Murray’s great experience, but also from his recent experience, Bruneau also notes. He’s cunning, Murray. He is good at developing tactics. And he has the advantage of having faced young people like Alcaraz, Sinner or Zverev. He knows them.

The end of a great career and the beginning of another?

The new collaboration should continue at least until the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the season. Djokovic will aim for a 25th major title in Melbourne, on his favorite surface, which would be an absolute record.

Vincent Millot was able to observe Djokovic up close in 2022 when he managed Vasek Pospisil. They were invited by the Serb to his training center in New Jersey in preparation for the US Open. He has an impressive attention to detail and is a hard worker. He wants to do everything to winhe confirms.

He will have to play his cards well. We already see it from year to year, he is already reducing his schedulespecifies Millot. If he holds up physically, the others will have work to do. It will mainly depend on that. At some point, it will become more difficult for him to compete in five-set matches.

He still shows some signs that he is capable of defeating the three best (Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev), says Niemeyer. Another grand slam title is certainly doable. I think he is still in good physical condition, despite his age. I think he has about two years left at the top level, after which the speed will eventually catch up with him.

A 25th grand slam title, celebrated in the arms of a coach who himself stole two titles: this is an image that would certainly mark the history of sport. A feat within the reach of Djokovic, who still finished the 2024 campaign at a more than respectable 7th place in the world.

And no matter if Murray succeeds in accompanying Djokovic to the highest heights, there will be no shortage of job opportunities afterwards.

I can see him becoming captain for his country at the Davis Cup very soonsays Sylvain Bruneau as an example.