After six months together, Novak Djokovic announced on Tuesday, May 13, that he and coach-and former rival- Andy Murray are parting ways. He wrote, “Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun & support over last six months on & off the court. I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together .” The partnership had sparked high hopes. Djokovic’s legendary skill, combined with Murray’s sharp, analytical mind made many believe this season could finally bring the Serb his 25th Grand Slam or 100th title. But injuries and ill health got in the way. Now, as they split, what’s next for the former British legend? Andy Roddick has a theory.
Their partnership was initially meant to last only through the Australian Open. There, Djokovic reached the semifinals after a grueling four-hour battle against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. He won but injured his left hamstring. This injury forced him to withdraw after losing the first set to Zverev in the semis, ending his shot at the 25th title. Yet, when they announced Murray would stay on for the rest of the season, it seemed things were looking up.
Still, Djokovic faced early exits in Qatar and Indian Wells. He reached the Miami final but lost unexpectedly to teenage rising star Jakub Mensik, missing out on his 100th career title. Now, with the split announced, former world No. 1 Andy Roddick shared his thoughts on Tennis Channel’s podcast. “I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. I think this was an exceptional circumstance with someone he probably wanted to learn about from. They have a friendship before. I don’t think this is something that we see for Murray,” he said.
But why did Murray join Djokovic’s team in the first place? He had just retired at the Paris Olympics in August last year. Then, in November, news broke that he was part of Djokovic’s entourage. Some, like Martina Navratilova, saw it as a no-brainer. “When somebody like Djokovic asks you, you say yes.” And of course, he would. Novak was at tennis’s peak!
Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun & support over last six months on & off the court. I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together pic.twitter.com/iXqkdIN2Gb
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) May 13, 2025
Part of the Big Four legacy, Novak Djokovic has 24 Grand Slams and 99 titles, plus he still holds the record of 428 weeks as World No. 1. Murray was one of his closest rivals. Born just a week apart in May 1987, their careers have been tightly linked. They faced off 36 times, with Djokovic leading 25-11. Their battles included Grand Slam finals at the Australian Open (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016), Wimbledon (2011, 2013), and the French Open (2016).
The Briton stepped away from tennis because his body couldn’t handle long matches and travel anymore. Which Roddick pointed out, “At least on the travelling side, maybe he works with people in London, and I think his brain always wants to operate in the tennis space. But I’d be shocked if he went on the road with someone else anytime soon.”
During their time together, Andy Murray aimed to share tactical insights from years of battling at the highest level, including against Djokovic himself. His deep understanding of Nole’s game was seen as a big plus. But Murray hasn’t said anything about his next move.
On the split, he only said, “Thanks to Novak for the unbelievable opportunity to work together and thanks to his team for all their hard work over the past six months.” So, how has coaching been for Andy so far?
Murray on his thoughts as a first-time coach for Novak
Towards the end of January, before their extended partnership was announced, Murray shared his thoughts on coaching Novak and what their time together was like. Under Murray’s guidance, Djokovic reached the semi-finals but suffered a hamstring tear that ended his run. Still, Djokovic dropped only three sets in the tournament. Murray said, “I always knew I would enjoy coaching. I never thought otherwise, but there are things I’ve learned that were maybe a bit different than what I expected.”
Murray, who retired after playing his last event at the Paris Olympics 2024, admitted he still has room to grow as a coach. “There’s certainly areas I will need to get better at, for example, the technical side of the game. As a player, I would understand the basics, but not extremely well like some very experienced coaches.” It’s clear he’s eager to learn and improve beyond his playing experience.
His own career was shaped by legendary coaches, especially Ivan Lendl. Over three stints, Lendl’s strategy and mental toughness helped Murray win two Wimbledons, his first US Open, two Olympic golds, and reach World No.1. Murray said, “Some of the guys I’ve worked with over the years have been very strong in that area. Preparing for the matches and those things is very interesting to me. I like that side of things.” His respect for the mental game runs deep.
Now that Murray’s coaching run with Djokovic is over, it’s exciting to see what’s next. He’s been enjoying some downtime, sharing golf moments on Instagram. But with Roland Garros and Wimbledon coming up, could he jump into coaching again? Only time will tell. What do you think- will Coach Murray be back soon?
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