Will Andy Murray Turn Novak Djokovic into the “Greatest King of All Time”?

The Serbian star, who has won the Australian Open an incredible 10 times, will face American Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round on Monday. Andy Murray, Djokovic’s former rival, has expressed confidence that his coaching could help Djokovic solidify his title as the “greatest athlete of all time.”

Murray, 37, joined Djokovic’s coaching team in November last year, just a few months after his retirement. Murray admitted that transitioning from a competitor to a coach initially felt “very strange.” The two-time Wimbledon champion will experience his first taste of life on the other side as Djokovic, also 37, takes on 19-year-old Basavareddy.

Djokovic Starts from an Unfamiliar Position

Djokovic, a 10-time Melbourne champion, enters the tournament as the 7th seed, an unusual position for him after failing to win a Grand Slam title in 2024 – the first time in seven years.

Despite this, the Serbian star achieved a monumental milestone by winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris last year, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final. It was a career-long goal that Djokovic finally completed. Murray, who himself won consecutive gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, admitted feeling “something was missing” while watching Djokovic’s matches last year.

Rediscovering Motivation for a Legend

“He achieved the final thing he felt he needed to at the Olympics. So for me and his team, it’s important to figure out how to motivate him to keep going and push even harder,” Murray stated.

“Over the past few years, Novak has cemented himself as the greatest tennis player of all time, undoubtedly of his generation, with the records he’s broken. In the next few years, I think he already has the credentials to be considered the greatest athlete of all time.“

Murray added: “But I believe that if he can compete until he’s 38 or 39, win more Grand Slam titles, and beat younger opponents like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in big matches, he will fully establish himself as the greatest athlete ever. And it’s exciting to be part of that journey with him and his team.”

Murray’s Short-Term Coaching Contract

Murray, who faced Djokovic 36 times between 2006 and 2022, with 25 losses, has signed a short-term coaching contract with Djokovic that lasts until the end of the Australian Open 2025.