Andy Murray teamed up with none other than his longtime rival, Novak Djokovic, in late 2024, surprising the tennis world. The two, who had a 36-match rivalry that really shaped men’s tennis, decided to try something new for six months to find out if a past opponent could turn into a reliable mentor. They kicked off their collaboration on a high note at the 2025 Australian Open, which also saw the Serb defeating Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Murray’s careful analysis and shared champion’s mindset really gave Djokovic some new inspiration. But, you know, that unfortunate injury Djokovic had during the Australian Open semi-final really changed things, and the partnership just never bounced back from it. As reported by the BBC, Murray has since shared his candid reflections on this chapter, expressing a clear sense of professional regret.

“It was unfortunate what happened in Australia with the injury, but I watched him play ridiculous tennis in that tournament,” Murray stated. “After the injury, it was certainly a difficult few months for him, but also I think for the team and all of us. I was disappointed. Probably didn’t get the results I would have liked for him. But I learned a lot about what coaching is.” This admission revealed the weight of expectation Murray placed on himself.

He entered the role knowing he was working with one of the best athletes of all time and found the challenge as demanding as anticipated, given Djokovic’s famously intense approach to the sport. Murray still sees the whole experience in a positive light, considering it an amazing journey that taught him some really valuable lessons about coaching. But the former British star also shared his thoughts on his first session with the Serb.

Andy Murray on a particular moment when coaching Novak Djokovic

Andy Murray recently opened up about his rather uncomfortable first day stepping into the role of Novak Djokovic’s coach. It’s a story that really shows the behind-the-scenes of elite sports and highlights a common feeling of vulnerability a lot of veteran players can relate to.

“But I can’t say anything because this is embarrassing after just 4 or 5 minutes. So anyway, I finished, I completed the 50 minutes but I was in so much pain. I said to his team guys, you need to help me out here, I’ve been running for 45 minutes and my left calf cramped while I was there,” Murray stated. At that moment, his focus shifted away from the pain to how it might be perceived.

He articulated his thoughts, saying, “And I just felt like I couldn’t stop, I didn’t want to show to him, like oh, my god, this is someone I’ve been competing against for such a long time and after 5 minutes, he’s struggling training with me. So I did tough it out but it was a pretty embarrassing, embarrassing moment for me.”

Their first match together didn’t go as smoothly as they might have hoped. Djokovic seemed a bit frustrated and didn’t really shine against a lower-ranked opponent in that initial challenge. Even with the awkward start, there were always moments when the fans could see signs of mutual respect between the two legends.