After a tough quarterfinal defeat to Reilly Opelka at the Brisbane International, Novak Djokovic has kept his spirits high- he is back with his popular charity event ‘A Night With Novak’, for its third edition. Djokovic looked forward to partnering with Andy Murray on the same side of the courts. However, fate had a twist: his coach was on the opposite side of the net, playing alongside Victoria Azarenka. And Djokovic with Qinwen Zheng. In front of a packed crowd of 15,000, Djokovic couldn’t resist confusing Zheng on the court!

Last year, Djokovic partnered with Aryna Sabalenka in a lively match against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari for the same event. Their playful banter quickly went viral as they mocked each other’s grunts and exchanged jokes. One memorable moment featured the Serb using a behind-the-back hand signal that left Sabalenka asking the crowd, “Can people help me to understand what he is showing?” This year, Qinwen Zheng found herself echoing Sabalenka’s sentiments.

Following the match, Eurosport shared a moment on X, writing, “🤣 Zheng Qinwen isn’t alone in not understanding what Novak Djokovic means here ✊👉👎👇.” Alongside the video, in which Djokovic explained his signals: “(showing signs behind his back) so you go here, if you miss, you go here, then I go to this and if you miss, I go here and there. It’s okay?” Zheng looked lost and replied, “I don’t know what that means.” Despite her attempts to clarify, Djokovic shushed her before they scored a point. With a smirk, he remarked after Azarenka hit the ball into the net, “See? It’s simple.” But was it really that simple?

The event showcased more interactions among the players. At one point, Azarenka playfully asked if Djokovic’s son, Stefan—who was in the stands—could substitute for Murray. Although Stefan declined to play, Djokovic joked that he would perform better than Andy, eliciting laughter from everyone present. While it was all fun now, the actual tournament promises to be serious.

Additionally, Djokovic and Murray will be finally showcasing their teamwork after the announcement of their partnership in November. The news has kept many on their toes to see these former rivals unite on the court. However, while pressure mounts on Nole to prove himself at AO starting Sunday, there seems to be one insider who believes this partnership is a rather “unserious hire” on his part.

Craig Shapiro shares an unpopular opinion on the Djokovic-Murray partnership

Novak Djokovic kicked off his season at the Brisbane International, teaming up with Nick Kyrgios, who was making a comeback after injuries to his wrist and ankle. Although Djokovic’s singles journey ended in the quarter-finals against Reilly Opelka, he remained optimistic about collaborating with Andy Murray in the upcoming Grand Slam. Following his exit from the tournament on January 7, the tennis commentator, Shapiro, voiced skepticism about this coaching partnership on X.

He stated, “It’s interesting. I feel like I am the only person that considers the Murray Joker ‘partnership’ an unserious hire. I guess we’ll see what’s what sooner than later.” While Shapiro didn’t elaborate on his thoughts, it’s clear that the true impact of this collaboration will unfold starting January 12. Shapiro wasn’t alone in his skepticism.

Following the announcement in December, former world number one Jimmy Connors shared his thoughts on the Advantage Connors podcast. He noted, “They have competed against each other, they know each other’s game, they have spent time together – not only on the court, playing great matches – but also off the court.”

With Djokovic leading their 36 career face-offs 25 to 11, Connors highlighted that Djokovic’s familiarity with Murray could create a “comfort zone” for him in this new role. However, he cautioned, “It also might only last a week, you don’t know.” Ultimately, it will be up to Djokovic to perform at his best when the time comes.

The countdown to the first Grand Slam of the season has begun and so have preparations for it. On Tuesday, Djokovic practiced with World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz and Murray, who was seen actively supervising their training session in Melbourne. Now as anticipation builds for the coveted event, the question remains: will Djokovic clinch his 25th Grand Slam at this tournament? Share your thoughts in the comments below!