Novak Djokovic’s shock retirement from the Australian Open semifinal due to a leg injury has cast uncertainty over his newly forged coaching partnership with Andy Murray. The duo, which joined forces in November 2024, had worked together for the first time in Melbourne, capturing the attention of the tennis world.
While their collaboration seemed promising, Djokovic admitted during a press conference after his injury withdrawal against Alexander Zverev that the future of their partnership remains undecided.
Djokovic on the partnership: “We need to cool off”
Djokovic, visibly disappointed after retiring from his semifinal due to a torn muscle, said it was too soon to decide the next steps with Murray:
“I don’t know. We both were disappointed with what just happened, so we didn’t talk about future steps. We are so fresh off the court. I’ll definitely have a chat with Andy and thank him for being here with me, give him my feedback, which is, of course, positive, and see how he feels.”
Acknowledging the emotional weight of the moment, Djokovic added:
“At the moment, we are still hot-headed and disappointed, so it’s kind of hard to switch the page and start talking about what the next steps are. I think we both need to cool off a little bit and then we’ll have a chat.”
Murray: “We’ll speak after the tournament”
Murray echoed Djokovic’s sentiments, emphasizing that their future collaboration will be discussed in due time:
“Me and Novak agreed that after the tournament we would speak. We’ll do that.”
The former world No. 1 also expressed gratitude for the warm reception he received from Djokovic’s long-standing team, highlighting their role in the Serbian’s enduring success:
“They’ve been a great team. At times it feels a little bit embarrassing that, because of my relationship with Novak, how much people talk about that, or when there’s a good result or performance, that it’s because I’ve helped him.”
Murray continued:
“I’m fully aware that the team that is with him has done an incredible job over many, many years to allow him to still be competing at this level at the age that he’s at. They’ve all been really, really helpful to me. They really welcomed me into the team. It’s been great to be a part of.”
A memorable collaboration despite uncertainty
Although Djokovic and Murray’s partnership remains in limbo, their collaboration at the Australian Open offered memorable moments. From animated discussions during a practice set with Carlos Alcaraz to Djokovic’s heartfelt embrace with Murray after his quarterfinal win, their dynamic seemed to click.
Even as Djokovic fell short of an 11th Australian Open title, the pairing provided a glimpse of the strategic genius and camaraderie between two legends of the sport.
What’s next for Djokovic and Murray?
As Djokovic begins his recovery from injury, the decision to extend his partnership with Murray will likely depend on the direction both players want to take. For Djokovic, who is navigating the twilight of his career, Murray’s insight as a former rival could provide an edge.
Should they part ways, their short-lived collaboration will still be remembered as a fascinating chapter in tennis history—one that reunited two greats in a unique and unexpected capacity.