By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Image Credit: Matthew Calvis
Andy Murray has two compelling reasons for stepping into the coaching role of Novak Djokovic.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist regards the Grand Slam legend as “one of the greatest athletes ever,” and views this coaching opportunity as a rare and invaluable chance.
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In a candid interview on Sporting Misadventures with Chris Hoy, Murray explains his decision to coach the 10-time Australian Open champion and reflects on the unexpected challenges he faced during his coaching debut at this year’s Australian Open.
“I genuinely believe [Novak] is among the best athletes in history,” Murray shared with Chris Hoy on his podcast. “The chance to coach him was simply something I couldn’t overlook, as it might not come around again. Who knows how much longer he’ll be competing?”
Despite Murray’s stellar reputation as one of the fittest players in tennis and his articulate and thoughtful demeanor, he confronted two surprisingly tough aspects of his initial coaching experience in Australia.
Murray noted that his extensive video preparation of Djokovic’s opponents left him feeling mentally exhausted, and initially, he struggled with clear communication within the entirety of Djokovic’s team. However, he felt his communication improved as the tournament went on.
“I loved watching the matches. Viewing them from a different angle was enjoyable,” Murray recounted. “The analysis, the strategy, and the planning were thrilling, but it also proved to be demanding.”
“Being new to coaching brought many realizations. As a player, I didn’t grasp the depth of what coaches handle. I’ve always struggled with communication, but when you’re leading a team, it’s vital to provide clear direction.”
“I feel I managed that fairly well, though it was quite challenging. I also found myself buried in videos and overanalyzing, which made me feel fatigued.”
“Towards the end, I recognized my need for balance — reminding myself to take breaks, work out, or simply hit a few golf balls. It was an incredible experience filled with learning and challenges.”
Excited to have @andy_murray on the podcast this week discussing retirement, coaching Novak Djokovic, and a range of other topics! https://t.co/x5V078iuit pic.twitter.com/dzJH8V36LA
— Matt Majendie (@mattmajendie) February 12, 2025
When asked which iconic Big 3 player he would most want to coach, Murray immediately mentioned 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.
“That’s a fantastic question; I would have to say Roger. His ability with the tennis ball is remarkable,” Murray expressed. “[Federer] possesses countless options on the court. To be fair, Novak is exceptional in this regard too, which highlights that good coaching often hinges on providing clear guidance…”
“Coaching Roger would have been exciting because he can execute any shot brilliantly. If you asked him to do something, he could deliver without hesitation.”
Catch Andy Murray’s entire interview and hear his humorous tales, including a wild incident during a drug test, on Sporting Misadventures with Chris Hoy here.
