Andy Murray has spoken candidly about his brief tenure coaching former on-court rival Novak Djokovic, describing the experience as both "amazing" and "extremely demanding," while expressing disappointment over the final outcomes.
A High-Profile Partnership That Captured Headlines
The surprising alliance began in November 2024, shortly after the three-time Grand Slam champion, Murray, retired from professional play following the Paris Olympics. The Scot joined the team of the 24-time major champion, instantly creating one of the most talked-about narratives in tennis.
"I look back on it and I'm glad I did it," Murray stated during an appearance on The Athletic's The Tennis Podcast. "It's an amazing experience that I've had. It didn't last long but I put everything into it." He added, "I was disappointed. Probably didn't get the results I would have liked for him."
Promising Start Followed by Injury and Struggle
The partnership showed immediate promise. Under Murray's guidance, Djokovic navigated his way to the semi-finals of the 2025 Australian Open, notably defeating Carlos Alcaraz. However, the campaign was cut short when the Serbian star suffered a hamstring injury and was forced to retire against Alexander Zverev.
The period following Djokovic's return from injury proved challenging. The pair endured back-to-back first-round losses at tournaments in Qatar and Indian Wells. A run to the final in Miami offered hope, but it ended with a defeat to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik. The coaching arrangement was dissolved in May 2025, just before the French Open.
"It was unfortunate what happened in Australia with the injury, but I watched him play ridiculous tennis in that tournament," Murray recalled. "After the injury it was certainly a difficult few months for him but also I think for the team and all of us."
Lessons Learned and Future Coaching Ambitions
Murray revealed that working with an athlete of Djokovic's calibre was as challenging as anticipated. "You're working with not only one of the best tennis players but one of the best athletes of all time," he said. "Novak, like myself, is a challenging character... [his approach] is extremely demanding."
Despite the mixed results, the 38-year-old Scot values the insight gained. "I learned a lot about what coaching is," Murray affirmed. "I was fully invested, tried my hardest to help, and made some good relationships along the way."
He also indicated a willingness to take on another coaching role in the future, armed with this unique experience. "I think it's important for a coach to bring good energy," Murray added. "It's something that if I ever coached again, I would work on and try to do a better job of it."
