Andy Murray admits teaching is extra demanding than he anticipated however he believes he can assist Novak Djokovic win extra Grand Slam titles.
Murray will get a primary style of life on the opposite facet throughout a match on Monday when Djokovic takes on younger American Nishesh Basavareddy within the first spherical of the Australian Open.
The ten-time Melbourne champion is within the unfamiliar place of being seeded down in seventh after failing to win a Grand Slam title in 2024 for the primary time in seven years.
The one title claimed by Djokovic final yr was one he had been chasing his entire profession, with the Serbian defeating Carlos Alcaraz to clinch an emotional Olympic gold in Paris.
It was a reminder that Djokovic should still have an enormous say in what appears to be like set to be the period of Alcaraz, who Djokovic may meet within the quarter-finals right here, and Jannik Sinner.
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Djokovic practices in Melbourne beneath the watchful eye of his new coach Murray, with the Serbian looking for a record-extending eleventh Australian Open males’s singles title
Djokovic admitted it felt unusual at first to open himself as much as somebody he beforehand tried to hunt each benefit over, and it was the identical feeling for Murray.
The 37-year-old has additionally gained new insights into the totally different calls for of teaching that he was not conscious of as a participant.
Murray mentioned of Djokovic: “He’s been unbelievably open, and the communication when we’ve been on court with each other and away from the court has been really, really good.
“I believe the primary couple of days it was a bit unusual, and it was a bit totally different. However each of us have been making an attempt to encourage that communication, and attempt to construct that belief.
“And with frustrations on court and stuff. I totally understand that side of things for him. I’m here to try and help him as best as I can.
“It is clearly been fascinating and attention-grabbing. There’s been some issues which were shocking however I anticipated him to be an especially exhausting employee, very intense and all the time eager to study, questioning a number of issues, and eager to get higher.
“I’ve found at times coaching maybe a little bit more demanding than I expected.
“I believe once you’re a participant, you simply see what you do on the court docket, and you are not concerned in all of the conversations together with your group that go into every day, about how you are feeling, or what it’s that you will work on, and the technique and preparations for matches.
“But, obviously, as a coach and a team member, the days look a bit different. And, yes, it’s pretty demanding.”
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A have a look at each Masters closing on the ATP Tour between Murray and Djokovic
Hiring his former nice rival Murray was one other signal that Djokovic remains to be looking out for an additional edge, and the Scot mentioned: “In my opinion, from watching his matches last year, there was at times a little bit missing, but there wasn’t at the Olympics, and also at Wimbledon.
“I believe the harm across the French Open time proper forward of the Olympic Video games most likely centered his consideration and the way essential these subsequent few months have been.
“When he was fully motivated and fully focused, he won the Olympics, which is an incredible achievement. I think it was only natural after that for there to be a bit of a let-down, because he’d set himself really one target and one goal for the year and he did that.
“He achieved the very last thing that he felt like he wanted to on the Olympics. So for me and his group, it is about looking for that motivation to maintain going and pushing for extra.
“Novak has in the last few years cemented himself as the best tennis player of all time, certainly of his generation, with the records that he’s achieved. These next couple of years, I think he maybe already has a legitimate claim to be the best athlete of all time.
“However I believe, if he can exit as a 38, 39-year-old and win extra Slams and beat Alcaraz and Sinner in massive matches, he is received a declare to be the most effective athlete of all time, and I believe that is thrilling for me and his group to be a part of that.”
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Djokovic explains why he selected former rival Murray as his new coach…
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