Murray Shares His Experience Coaching Djokovic and the Possibility of Coaching Federer

Murray Shares His Experience Coaching Djokovic and the Possibility of Coaching Federer

Novak Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Australian Open under the guidance of Andy Murray.

Murray’s Challenges in a Coaching Role

Former world number one Andy Murray has always been known for his honesty and integrity. This may be one of the qualities that helped him play a crucial role in Novak Djokovic’s coaching team at the 2025 Australian Open.

Murray provided valuable strategic insights, which Djokovic greatly appreciated. However, in a recent interview on the podcast Sporting Misadventures with Chris Hoy, Murray admitted that the role was far from easy.

“There were parts of the job that I really enjoyed. I liked watching matches from a different perspective, analyzing, strategizing. But honestly, I also found it very difficult.”

Murray Acknowledges the Challenges of Transitioning to Coaching

Murray admitted his lack of coaching experience, which made it difficult for him to communicate and give instructions.

“As a player, there are so many things you don’t realize that coaches have to handle. I am not the best communicator, and that was a challenge when I had to provide clear instructions to the team.”

Murray also revealed that he spent too much time analyzing match footage, leading to burnout:

“I made the mistake of watching too many videos, overanalyzing matches, and overpreparing. It exhausted me, but by the end of the tournament, I learned how to balance things better.”

A Unique Perspective on Djokovic’s Playing Style

Born in the same year, 1987, Murray and Djokovic have faced each other in many major matches, including two Grand Slam finals (US Open 2012, Wimbledon 2013).

When asked about weaknesses in Djokovic’s game, Murray stated:

“We discussed this early on in our work together. It wasn’t about pointing out mistakes but rather identifying strengths. When I played against Djokovic, there were specific strategies that made it difficult for me, and I helped him maximize those aspects.”

Murray also emphasized the importance of understanding the opponent’s perception during a match:

“As a player, you don’t truly feel the speed and impact of your own shots from the opponent’s perspective. But if I could hear from Djokovic, Federer, or Nadal about what frustrated them when playing against me, that would be incredibly valuable.”

Murray’s Future in Coaching

Murray acknowledged that he still lacks experience in coaching and needs to improve various skills. However, his biggest advantage is his deep understanding of Djokovic, having been one of his toughest rivals for years.

“I’ve competed against Djokovic on the biggest stages for over 10-12 years. I understand his game, I’ve studied his style extensively, and I know what it feels like to face him. That helps me compensate for some of the weaknesses in my coaching.”

Despite the challenges, Murray will continue working with Djokovic for now, promising more exciting developments in the 2025 season.