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After retiring from competition following the 2024 Olympics, Andy Murray is getting back into tennis as a coach for one of his longtime rivals.
Novak Djokovic announced on Saturday that Murray will work with him as he prepares for the Australian Open.
“I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open. I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals,” Murray said (h/t The Athletic’s Callum Davis).
Murray and Djokovic are both 37 years old, born exactly one week apart in 1987. Despite being the same age, Djokovic actually turned pro first in 2003. It wasn’t until 2005 when Murray began competing at the top level.
They are two of the most decorated players of this era. Murray was a three-time grand slam singles champion and three-time Olympic medalist, including back-to-back golds in 2012 and 2016.
Djokovic’s 24 grand slam singles titles are the most ever for a men’s player.
The 2024 season marked just the second time Djokovic didn’t win at least one of the four major tournaments in the past 13 years (2017). He made up for it by winning his first Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games in August.
Djokovic announced in March he had parted ways with longtime coach Goran Ivanišević. The pair had been working together for six years, but Djokovic started 2024 losing in the Australian Open semifinals and third round at Indian Wells.
The last few years of Murray’s playing career were marred by injuries. His final event was playing doubles with Daniel Evans at the Olympics. The duo advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
Djokovic and Murray had a friendly rivalry on the court. They played 36 head-to-head matches from 2005 to ’22. Djokovic had a 25-11 advantage over Murray, with five wins in grand slam finals.
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