Andy Murray has never been one to sugarcoat the truth. Whether he’s reflecting on his own career, his injuries, or the changing landscape of men’s tennis, the Brit has always preferred honesty over flair. So when he sat down for a candid chat on The Tennis Podcast, his recollection of coaching Novak Djokovic was bound to carry that unmistakable Murray frankness.

The three-time Grand Slam champion, Murray retired from the sport at the 2024 Paris Olympics. And then in less than three months after that, he gave a nod to join Djokovic’s team. The Serb announced Murray as his coach on November 23, 2024. Their partnership was designed to help Djokovic prepare for the AO and extended beyond the major tournament until May 2025, spanning roughly six months and six tournaments. It ended during the clay season in May. Under Murray’s guidance Djokovic’s record across the seven tournaments he played was 12-7 (63.2%). How does Brit look at this rollercoaster ride with one of the finest of the game?

Well, during the interview, Andy Murray revealed, “You’re obviously working with, he’s not just one of the best tennis players but one of the best athletes of all time, so my expectation was that it was going to be extremely challenging. Novak, like myself, is a challenging character in terms of the way he goes about his tennis; it’s extremely demanding. I fully expected that.” If we take a look at their careers, they have faced each other 36 times in their careers! Guess what? Novak Djokovic won 25 of those duels…

So, Murray had already seen that intensity from across the net for years, but standing beside Djokovic brought a new perspective. He further added, “I look back on it, and I’m glad that I did it. It’s an amazing experience that I’ve had. I’ve learned a bit. Obviously didn’t last that long. I put everything into it that I had. I tried my hardest to help him.”

Andy Murray knew the psychology of champions, but working with one as driven as Djokovic meant stepping into a vortex of relentless pursuit. Yet instead of feeling overwhelmed, he found himself oddly inspired. Their sessions weren’t just technical - they were mental marathons, two seasoned warriors dissecting the sport they both loved, pushing boundaries like they always had. And what made the relationship even more fascinating was the shared past.

It all started with two impressive runs in Australia. The first one was QF at the Brisbane International, and then the next one, the big one… reaching the semis at the AO. But unfortunately for Novak Djokovic, his journey was cut short due to an injury in that match. Recalling those moments, Murray said, “Initially it was going well. It was unfortunate what happened in Australia with the injury, and I watched him play — in that tournament — ridiculous tennis, in my opinion. I saw him play some amazing tennis there. Speaking to his team about that, it was like, ‘So, so good. So impressive what he’s doing. After then, the injury, it was certainly a difficult few months for him, but also I think for the team and all of us. So I was disappointed. Probably didn’t get the results I would have liked for him.”

For Andy Murray, the coaching stint wasn’t about reinventing Novak Djokovic. It wasn’t about validation either. It was about revisiting the fire of competition from a new vantage point - one that only someone with Murray’s resume could appreciate. So, it was more like a full-circle moment - one rival helping another keep pushing toward greatness. What else did the Brit say in that interview, though?

Andy Murray recalls a funny moment during his stint as Novak Djokovic’s coach

In the same conversation, Andy Murray revisited one particular funny moment from his short-lived coaching stint with the 24-time Grand Slam champion. While sharing his thoughts about his first training session with Novak Djokovic, he revealed, “We did the practice session… his team were all kind of laughing at me because, whilst Novak was warming up, I was on the court practicing my feeding [balls], like warming up my feeding. They were like, ‘I’ve never seen anyone do that before.’ I was like, ‘Well, as a player, I used to hate it when the coach fed poorly.’ And I had a basket of balls, working on my feeding. So they all found it quite amusing I was doing that.”

And in that blend of intensity, laughter, and shared fire, Murray found something he didn’t expect: a new appreciation for a rival he once chased, beat, lost to, and finally stood beside.

In another instance, he shared an “embarrassing” story where he was asked to join Novak Djokovic for a run. “After the tennis session, his physical trainer was like, ‘Novak is going for, like, a long slow run in the park; would you mind joining him?’ And I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ I didn’t run since I was about 25, on the court I did, but I never did as part of my training. And I was like, ‘It is my first day on the job, I can’t say: no, I’m not doing this’. I was like, ‘Yeah, no worries. I’ll do that.’ Baring in mind, I also hadn’t been staying in great shape since I finished; I’d been doing a bit but not loads. I told them that I’ve not trained much, and they said, ‘It’s fine, it will be a gentle run.’”

Andy Murray explained it was a 50-minute run in a park, and there were quite a few hills in there. Although the pace was slow, after 4-5 minutes, Murray got his left calf cramped. “And I was like, ‘Oh no,’ but I can’t say anything, like, this is embarrassing… after four or five minutes. Anyway, I finished; I completed the 50 minutes. I was in so much pain. When I finished, I said to his team, ‘Guys, you need to help me out here,’” Murray.

However, later on, he somehow managed to complete that run, but it was an embarrassing moment for him. Especially when there was someone who had been his fierce competitor for all these years beside him. What are your thoughts on Murray’s short coaching stint with Djokovic?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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