Murray Admits Coaching Djokovic Was More Challenging Than Expected

Former world No. 1 Andy Murray admitted that coaching Novak Djokovic was tougher than he had imagined and acknowledged that he didn’t perform well at the 2025 Australian Open.

“I enjoy working with Djokovic, watching him play from a different perspective,” Murray shared in a podcast on February 12. “I analyzed, prepared, planned, and devised strategies. But maybe I spent too much time watching videos and felt quite exhausted.”

Murray Transitions to Coaching After Retirement

Murray retired in the summer of 2024, after competing at the Paris Olympics in July. Three months later, he received an offer to become a coach from his close friend Novak Djokovic and accepted. The duo began working together at the Australian Open this year, reaching the semi-finals before Djokovic was forced to withdraw due to a torn thigh muscle. Their biggest highlight was a comeback victory against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals after losing the first set.

Murray Acknowledges Struggles in His New Role

“This job requires a lot, and I found it difficult,” Murray added. “I am not a great communicator, which made it challenging to integrate into the team. You need strong communication skills to provide clear instructions to everyone. It wasn’t until the end of the tournament that I felt I had improved.”

At Melbourne, Murray communicated with Djokovic in English, but the Serbian champion spoke to the rest of the team in Serbian. Eurosport reported that Djokovic had to use two languages during practice sessions and matches.

Murray: ‘I Would Choose to Coach Federer’

When asked which of the Big 3 he would prefer to coach, Murray chose Roger Federer. The Scottish player explained: “Perhaps because Federer could do almost anything with the ball. Federer had many tactical options on the court, something Djokovic is also great at.”

Continuing Partnership with Djokovic Until Wimbledon

Despite the Australian Open setback, Murray will continue working with Djokovic at least until Wimbledon. The two will compete at the Indian Wells Masters in the U.S. next month. Before that, Djokovic will play in the Qatar Open in Doha next week without a coach. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has just recovered from his injury and does not have high expectations for the ATP 500 event.

“I took some time to rest and reflect,” Murray said about his post-Grand Slam break. “I hit the gym, took walks, and played some golf. I had an interesting experience coaching Djokovic and will see how things develop.”

Murray – Once the Biggest Rival of the ‘Big 3’

At his peak, Murray was considered the biggest rival to the ‘Big 3’, even being included in the conversation as part of the ‘Big 4’. He won 739 career matches, including 105 victories against top-10 players. Murray claimed 45 singles titles, ranking 15th in history, including three Grand Slams, one ATP Finals, and 14 Masters 1000 titles. He also earned $65 million in prize money, trailing only the Big 3.

Despite his exceptional talent, Murray’s career was plagued by injuries, preventing him from adding more Grand Slam titles. From 2010 to 2016, he lost five Australian Open finals, four of them to Novak Djokovic. He also lost to Djokovic in the 2016 Roland Garros final.