Tennis professional Mark Petchey says it’s an absolute nonsense to even suppose for a second that Novak Djokovic hiring Andy Murray means the Serb has accepted that his time has gone.
However on the opposite facet, there have been additionally some who did not have actually constructive phrases concerning the collaboration, with some questioning how Murray might assist Djokovic. Additionally, some had been suggesting that the document 24-time Grand Slam champion wanted one thing to get within the headlines after Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s dominant 2024.
Petchey, who labored with the Briton firstly of his profession, could not consider a few of the feedback that had been made. And when addressing that, the present tennis commentator and analyst underlined that the Serb made that transfer solely as a result of he feels the previous two-time Wimbledon champion might assist him win the Australian Open.
“Knowing Andy as well as I do, there’s no question that he will already be going through Novak’s matches from this year with a fine tooth comb, the battles that he’s had with Carlos and Jannik and what’s worked but what hasn’t worked. I’ve seen people say this is Novak at the end of his career kind of winding down potentially by hiring a mate. That’s absolute bull—-. Andy is not wired that way. He wouldn’t let me beat him in a video game. He will not go into Australia with Djokovic if it isn’t to win another Australian Open, his 25th Major and a record 11th Australian Open,” Petchey advised Betway.
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic© YouTube screenshot
Djokovic himself supplied an in depth clarification on why he employed Murray
Of their statements, each merely acknowledged that they had been excited to work collectively, with out explaining a lot. That led to followers throwing out theories and giving their ideas on how their partnership noticed the sunshine of day.
One of many extra well-liked theories was that Djokovic needed somebody who was competing in opposition to the present group of gamers on the ATP Tour. And if that was the case, Murray – who retired from professional tennis through the Paris Olympics – was the suitable man for that job.
And final week, the present world No. 7 confirmed that one of many causes he employed the Briton was as a result of he needed somebody who was in his place. When explaining how their collaboration occurred, the 37-year-old additionally admitted that the previous world No. 1 was “caught off guard” when he gave him a name however he knew the Serb was severe they usually rapidly struck a deal.
“I was going through a process of thinking about next season in the past couple of months and figuring out what I needed as I stopped with my coach Goran Ivanisevic, who I was successful with. I took about six months to think if I really needed a coach and if yes, who is that going to be and the profile of the coach,” Djokovic told Sky Sports.
“We were going through different names and I realized at this point the perfect coach would be someone who has been through the experiences I have been through. A multiple Grand Slam winner and I was thinking about a few and the Andy Murray discussion appeared on the table with my team. I decided I would give him a call and see how it goes. It caught him off guard a little bit as he wasn’t expecting it.
“We connected really fast and he accepted it after a few days. I can’t be more excited about it. This collaboration is a surprise to me as well, to everyone, but it is exciting for tennis. He has been one of my greatest rivals, we are at the same age. We played in all the biggest stages in our sport so I can’t wait to be out there next season.”
Can Murray win the Australian Open as a coach after Djokovic did not permit him to take action as a participant?
Sarcastically, the Australian Open was the Grand Slam the place the Briton made probably the most finals – 5 – however he concluded his profession with no title at Melbourne Park.
After shedding to Roger Federer within the 2010 Australian Open last, Murray made 4 different finals in Melbourne – in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2015. In all of these 4 finals, he clashed Djokovic and misplaced each time.
Previously, the Serb prevented the Briton from successful an Australian Open. Now, he will likely be hoping that his former rival might help him return to Slam-winning type and acquire his twenty fifth Slam in January.
