- Andy Murray called time on a 19-year career after the Olympics in Paris last year
- The Brit joined forces with Novak Djokovic to train him at the Australian Open
- The pair were pictured on the practice courts down under for the first time today
Andy Murray shocked the tennis world in November last year when he announced he would coach Novak Djokovic in one of the most sensational appointments in the sport’s history.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, 37, who retired from playing in August 2024 after a glittering 19-year career, is part of his long-time rival’s coaching set-up for the Australian Open.
The two were pictured on the practice court on Tuesday, as Djokovic chases his record-extending 11th major down under and 25th overall.
The Serbian kicked off his season last week in Brisbane with a defeat by Reilly Opelka. The 37-year-old will find out his first-round opponent in Melbourne on Thursday when the draw is made at 14:30 local time (01:30 GMT).
Djokovic beat Murray in four Australian Open finals, a competition he has won 10 times on his way to 24 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic endured a difficult season in 2024, failing to win a major in a calendar year for the first time since 2017, but he did win a long-awaited gold medal at the Olympics, which he described as his ‘greatest achievement’.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray took to the courts in Australia ahead of this year’s Open
The former rivals announced that they would train together after Murray retired last year
Murray famously beat Djokovic in two major finals – the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon
Murray called time on his 19-year career last summer, with a final doubles run-out alongside partner Dan Evans at the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Scotsman famously twice beat Djokovic in Grand Slam finals — to lift the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 — and succeeded him as world No 1 in 2016.
It was Djokovic, though, who would have the edge over Murray in Grand Slam finals, beating him in Australia in 2011, 2013, 2015 and then in 2016 as well as at the French Open in the same year.
Their rivalry dates back to their teenage years, when they attended training camp together and Murray later won the first matchup between them as juniors.
In their professional careers, Djokovic boasted a 25-11 lead in their head-to-head records.
Only a week apart in age, Djokovic and Murray partnered in doubles at the Australian Open, both aged 19, in 2006.
Murray has maintained respect for his long-time competitor, even posting a tribute to him on social media after he announced his retirement in July.
‘Rivals, doubles partners, friends and lovers? Thanks for the 25 years of competition and good luck for rest of your career,’ the Scot said.
Their head-to-head record is 25-11 in Djokovic’s favour, while he also blows Murray out of the water with his Grand Slam titles. The Serbian has managed 24 compared to Murray’s three.
Their rivalry dates back to their teenage years when they attended training camp together
After it was announced that they would work together this year, the duo each expressed their excitement to not be facing each other on opposite ends of the court.
‘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,’ said Murray.
‘We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits,’ said Djokovic.
‘We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner.’
