Andy Murray Discusses the Stress Level and Role in Novak Djokovic’s Team

Andy Murray has not gotten any coaching job since parting ways with Novak Djokovic in April.

Andy Murray Discusses the Stress Level and Role in Novak Djokovic’s Team

Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Tie Break Ten)

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At this point last year, the media was buzzing ahead of Novak Djokovic’s partnership with Andy Murray. The Serbian legend announced in November 2024 that he had hired Murray to be his coach, and they would begin working together at the 2025 Australian Open. However, the partnership didn’t last long, but Murray still holds fond memories from his time with Djokovic.

Murray and Djokovic had jostled on the court, consistently meeting on the court in tournaments. They met in seven Grand Slam finals throughout their illustrious career. Djokovic won five of those meetings, including four at the Australian Open and one at Roland Garros. Murray’s only two wins came at the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon Championship.

Having shared a lot of respect on the court, they reunited once again in January, at the Australian Open, with Murray as Djokovic’s coach. Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the tournament. After that, he suffered two opening-round exits at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells Masters.

Djokovic’s best run under Murray’s tutelage came at the Miami Open, where he reached the final before losing to Jakub Mensik in straight sets. After that, the 38-year-old had a couple of bad runs during the clay-court season that forced him to part ways with the British legend. In the next tournament, Djokovic won his 100th title in Geneva.

During an interview with The Tennis podcast, Murray was asked how strenuous it was to coach Djokovic on tour. The former World No.1 revealed that during his time with the Hellenic Open champion, he went through stressful periods before every match. He added that the build-up to every match was more difficult than the match itself:

I actually didn’t find the matches that stressful. The build-up to the matches was more stressful. On match day you can help—comment on what you’re seeing, what needs to change. But the build-up is where the coach has so many responsibilities: making sure the rackets are ready, the practice court is booked, the practice partner is appropriate, the match videos are done. I viewed it as my job. Novak didn’t ask me to do those things, I wanted to, because then you’re in control of it.

Djokovic was known for his strict routine on tour, including his physical therapy and off-court duties. Those values have made him one of the greatest players to ever grace the court. He ended the 2025 season by winning two ATP 250 tournaments and reaching the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams.

Andy Murray opens up about Novak Djokovic’s preparation ahead of clash against Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic’s biggest win of the season by far was at the Australian Open. The 38-year-old was the latest favorite against Carlos Alcaraz ahead of their clash in the quarter-finals. But, he stunned the 22-year-old in four sets in Melbourne, despite sustaining an injury in the first set that led him to take a medical timeout.

Novak Djokovic Andy Murray Indian Wells 2025
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray (via X/The Tennis Letter)

During the aforementioned interview, Andy Murray confessed that a lot of preparation went into prepping Djokovic for the clash against Alcaraz and a likely clash against Jannik Sinner. But, the 10-time Australian Open champion crashed out in the semi-finals after retiring from his clash against Alexander Zverev:

We focused on patterns of play we thought would work against guys like Alcaraz and Sinner—players he’d likely need to beat to win another major. A lot of that analysis was done ahead of time, because in tennis you don’t get much time between matches. You finish Wednesday, have one day to prepare, and you need to sleep, train, recover.

Djokovic ended his season at the Hellenic Championship, where he defeated Lorenzo Musetti in three sets. He then withdrew from the ATP Finals in Turin, despite qualifying weeks earlier before the start of the tournament. His withdrawal then let Musetti take his place in the tournament.

Also Read: Daniil Medvedev Gives His Thoughts on Why Beating Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is Difficult