According to former French player Julien Benneteau, Novak Djokovic is sending a message to his ATP rivals by appointing Andy Murray as his coach. The world was taken aback on Saturday when the 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed his partnership with his recently retired opponent.
In the off-season, the British three-time Grand Slam champion will coach Djokovic’s squad and travel with him to the Australian Open, the Serbian’s first tournament of the next year.
For the first time since 2017, Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam title in 2024, playing in just 11 events. He ended the season ranked 7th in the world, accomplishing his main objective of winning the Olympic gold medal, despite performances that were below his own expectations.
It appears that the shift in era is final after a season where Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz divided the four majors between themselves and stole the show. The 37-year-old Djokovic is still committed to competing for additional Slam championships, though. Benneteau thinks that hiring Murray gives Djokovic’s opponent a clue.
Benneteau said: “It’s not because you were a great player that you are a good coach, and that guarantees success as a coach. Andy Murray will have the role of coach, not trainer; he will not teach him how to hit a forehand or a backhand. I think Djokovic has a real motivation to reach 25 Grand Slams, to be the only one to have done it, and he will do everything for it.”
He added: “The fact that Murray joins him in his team is a signal that he sends to the others and also to himself in order to have another voice, another vision on the game of Alcaraz and Sinner to be able to beat them in five sets. We must not forget Alexander Zverev, who finished the year strongly. And I think it is in this perspective that he calls on Andy Murray.”
Murray’s career came to an official end a few months ago while competing in doubles with Dan Evans at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The Brit will return to the Tour in 2025, this time from the box of one of his fiercest opponents, after enjoying a few months off.
Novak Djokovic in 2024
Currently ranked no.7, Novak played his last match on the 13th of October when he lost to world no.1 Jannik Sinner 7-6(4) 6-3 in the final in Shanghai (draw).
Currently, during this year Djokovic has managed to achieve a composed 37-9 record. Novak conquered 1 title in Paris. Novak was the finalist in Wimbledon and Shanghai.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2024
Currently ranked no.3, Carlos played his last match on the 19th
of November when he overcame world no.40 Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(0) 6-3 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).Presently, during this year Carlos owns a composed 54-13 match record. Carlos conquered 4 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open, Wimbledon and Beijing. The Spaniard got to the final in Paris.
Carlos Alcaraz will play the world no.364 Gabi Adrian Boitan in the . In the past, they have never competed against each other so far in top competitions.
The Spaniard conquered 4 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open, Wimbledon and Beijing. Carlos was the finalist in Paris (Olympics).
The Spaniard won 17 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz fought against each other 7 times. Their current head to head is 4-3 for Djokovic. Before, the last time they fought against each other, Novak Djokovic won 7-6(3) 7-6(2) in the final in Paris (Olympics) on the 4th of August 2024.
Jannik Sinner in 2024
Ranked no.1, the Italian played his last match on the 24th of November when he overcame world no.40 Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(2) 6-2 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
At the moment, during this season Sinner has a 73-6 win-loss record. Sinner clinched 8 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati, U.S. Open, Shanghai and the Nitto ATP Finals. The Italian was the runner-up in Beijing.
Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner |
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