By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Picture credit score: Matthew Calvis
Two main causes satisfied Andy Murray to educate Novak Djokovic.
The 2-time Olympic gold-medal champion views the Grand Slam king as “probably the greatest athletes of all time” and believes teaching Djokovic is a once-in-a-lifetime alternative.
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In a wide-ranging new interview with Sporting Misadventures with Chris Hoy, Murray shares why he agreed to educate his former rival, the 2 surprisingly best calls for he felt teaching the 10-time Australian Open champion finally month’s AO and the one champion he’d dream of teaching.
“I think about [Novak] to be probably the greatest athletes of all time so to have the chance to assist him to educate him is one thing I didn’t really feel I might flip down as a result of I may not get that probability [again],” Murray informed Chris Hoy on his podcast. “Who is aware of how for much longer he can be enjoying?”
Although Murray had a well-earned repute as one of many fittest man in tennis—and one of the crucial considerate and candid champions in interviews—he shared two surprisingly demanding areas that challenged him in his teaching debut Down Underneath.
Murray mentioned he watched a lot video of Djokovic’s opponents, he felt drained and drained from “overpreparing” and mentioned speaking clearly with the 37-year-old Serbian celebrity’s complete crew was an preliminary problem although he felt he improved because the match progressed.
“I loved the matches. I loved sitting on the aspect watching matches from a distinct perspective,” Murray informed Chris Hoy. “I loved the evaluation and getting ready, planning, the technique and all the things. I actually appreciated that. I additionally discovered it very demanding.
“I’m clearly very inexperienced as a coach so there’s numerous issues while you’re a participant you don’t understand that each one coaches are enthusiastic about and having to do. I’m a poor communicator, it’s one thing I’ve at all times struggled with however then while you’re a part of a crew and also you’re main the crew it’s actually necessary that you just’re speaking effectively with folks and giving them clear course.
“So I believe I did an okay job with that however I discovered that arduous, very demanding. I additionally did a fairly dangerous job. I spent approach an excessive amount of time in my room watching movies of tennis and nearly like over analyzing matches, like over-preparing somewhat bit so I discovered myself getting fairly drained.
“I did a greater job in direction of the top of the match with that, like that is an excessive amount of. ‘Give your self a break, get to the fitness center, go for a stroll, go and hit just a few golf balls’. It was expertise, I discovered lots from it. I discovered it arduous, I discovered it demanding.”
Delighted to be joined by @andy_murray on the podcast this week to speak retirement, teaching Novak Djokovic, snowboarding rescues, golf mishaps and lots extra. https://t.co/x5V078iuit pic.twitter.com/dzJH8V36LA
— Matt Majendie (@mattmajendie) February 12, 2025
Requested to select one legendary Large 3 champion he’d dream of teaching at his finest, Murray named 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.
“That is an ideal query; I believe in all probability Roger as a result of I believe he’s in a position to take action a lot with the tennis ball,” Murray mentioned. “[Federer] had so, so many choices. To be honest Novak is admittedly good with this as effectively, which is one cause it does not’ actually matter who’s teaching these guys supplied you’re giving them clear course…
“I believe teaching Roger would have been enjoyable as a result of… he simply has the entire pictures. So you would ask him to do one thing and he might do it, basically.”
Hearken to Andy Murray’s full interview, together with his coming-tragic bout of dirrhea whereas taking a drug check, on Sporting Misadventures with Chris Hoy right here.
