Andy Murray: Former Wimbledon champion says training was demanding, but believes Novak Djokovic can win more Grand Slams | Tennis news

Andy Murray admits training is more demanding than he expected, but believes he can help Novak Djokovic win more Grand Slam titles.

Murray will get his first taste of life on the other side during Monday’s match when Djokovic takes on young American Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round of the Australian Open.

The 10-times Melbourne champion finds himself in the unfamiliar position of the seventh seed after failing to win a Grand Slam title in 2024 for the first time in seven years.

The only title Djokovic won last year was the one he chased his entire career, with the Serbian beating Carlos Alcaraz to win an emotional Olympic gold in Paris.

It was a reminder that Djokovic can still have a big say in what looks set to be the era of Alcaraz, who Djokovic could meet here in the quarter-finals, and Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic admitted that at first it was strange for him to open up to someone before whom he used to try to look for every advantage, and he felt the same about Murray.

The 37-year-old also gained new insights into the different training requirements that he was unaware of as a player.

Murray said of Djokovic: “He was incredibly open and the communication when we were on the court with each other and off the court was really, really good.

“I think the first few days were a little weird, and it was a little different. But we were both trying to encourage that communication and try to build that trust.

“And with the frustrations on the pitch and stuff. I totally understand that side of things for him. I’m here to try and help him the best I can.

“Obviously it was fascinating and interesting. There were some things that were surprising, but I expected him to be an extremely hard worker, very intense and always ready to learn, question a lot of things and want to be better.

“Sometimes I felt that the training might be a bit more demanding than I expected.

“I think when you’re a player, you only see what you do on the field and you’re not involved in all the conversations with your team that go on every day, about how you feel or what you’re going to work on, and the strategy and preparations for the games.

“But obviously, as a coach and a member of the team, the days look a little different. And, yes, it’s pretty demanding.”

The engagement of his former great rival Murray was another sign that Djokovic is still looking for that extra edge, with the Scot saying: “In my opinion, watching his matches last year, it was a bit lacking at times, but not at the Olympics, but also at Wimbledon .

“I think the injury around the French Open right before the Olympics probably focused his attention on how important the next few months were.

“When he was fully motivated and fully focused, he won the Olympics, which is an incredible achievement. I think after that it was only natural that there was a bit of disappointment, because he set himself one goal and one goal for the year and he achieved it.

“He accomplished the last thing he felt like he should have done in the Olympics. So for me and his team, it’s about trying to find the motivation to keep going and push for more.

“Novak has established himself in the last few years as the best tennis player of all time, certainly of his generation, with the records he has achieved. In the next few years, I think he may already have a legitimate claim to be the best athlete of all time.

“But I think if he can come out as a 38, 39-year-old and win multiple Slams and beat Alcaraz and Sinner in big matches, he can make a claim that he’s the greatest athlete of all time, and I think that’s exciting. For me and his team to be a part of toga.”

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

• ABN AMRO Open Rotterdam (ATP 500) – 3.-9. February
• Dallas Open (ATP 500) – 3.-9. February
• Delray Beach Open (ATP 250) – 10.-16. February
• IEB+ Argentina Open (ATP 250) – 10.-16. February
• Open 13 Provence (ATP 250) – 10.-16. February
• Transylvania Open (WTA 250) – 3.-9. February
• Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (WTA 500) – 3.-8. February
• Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA 1000) – 9.-15. February
• Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (WTA 1000) – 16.-22. February

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