Andy Murray seen Novak Djokovic hanging out with F1 star George Russell and discovered it was an ideal method to drop a hilarious joke, telling the Serb he was presupposed to be working towards.
When the document 24-time Grand Slam champion introduced the newly retired Briton as his new coach for the Australian Open, the tennis neighborhood went right into a frenzy. And for a very good season since that is undoubtedly one of the crucial attention-grabbing and thrilling participant/coach pairings within the twenty first century.
On Friday, Djokovic visited Mercedes’ F1 group and spent a while with their star Russell.
“Idemo Nole (Let’s go Nole). Ace to welcome you into the group immediately, @djokernole,” the put up’s caption learn.
Within the remark part, Murray wrote: “He needs to be on the follow courtroom.”
How Murray, Djokovic introduced the information?
In mid-November, Serbian Davis Cup group captain Viktor Troicki advised native reporters that one thing large was brewing and that he heard the document 24-time Grand Slam champion was about to rent a giant identify. Nonetheless, nobody might have predicted that it might be the previous three-time Main winner who simply retired few months earlier.
“I’m going to be becoming a member of Novak’s group within the off season, serving to him to arrange for the Australian Open. I’m actually excited for it and looking out ahead to spending time on the identical facet of the web as Novak for a change, serving to him to attain his targets,” Murray mentioned in an announcement final weekend.
For the great portion of their careers, Djokovic and the Briton have been competing towards one another on the highest stage and sometimes assembly within the latter phases of Grand Slam and Masters tournaments. Solely on the Australian Open – the place they’re set to work collectively – they met in 4 finals, with the Serb profitable every one in every of them.
“I’m excited to have one in every of my best rivals on the identical facet of the web as my coach. Wanting ahead to the beginning of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy, with whom I’ve shared many distinctive moments on Australian soil,” the present world No. 7 mentioned.
Djokovic explains his resolution to rent Murray
When the information dropped, there have been blended reactions however about one factor everybody agreed – it was an especially thrilling and entertaining collaboration. On one facet, some thought that the Briton might assist the Serb within the tactical half and determine learn how to compete higher towards Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz subsequent yr. Additionally, some thought Djokovic wished somebody who competed towards the present group of gamers.
On the opposite facet, some had some robust but additionally insulting phrases, with some even suggesting that the 37-year-old employed Murray to make the headlines and draw the curiosity that he misplaced with the rises of Sinner and Alcaraz. Nonetheless, the bulk had little doubt that there was a very good cause why the previous world No. 1 made that transfer.
Now, Djokovic himself confirmed the primary idea – he wished somebody who was in his place and will really feel and perceive him.
“I used to be going by means of a strategy of fascinated about subsequent season up to now couple of months and determining what I wanted as I ended with my coach Goran Ivanisevic, who I used to be profitable with. I took about six months to assume if I actually wanted a coach and if sure, who’s that going to be and the profile of the coach,” Djokovic advised Sky Sports activities.
“We have been going by means of completely different names and I spotted at this level the proper coach could be somebody who has been by means of the experiences I’ve been by means of. A a number of Grand Slam winner and I used to be fascinated about a couple of and the Andy Murray dialogue appeared on the desk with my group. I made a decision I’d give him a name and see the way it goes. It caught him off guard a bit bit as he wasn’t anticipating it.
“We linked actually quick and he accepted it after a couple of days. I can’t be extra enthusiastic about it. This collaboration is a shock to me as nicely, to everybody, however it’s thrilling for tennis. He has been one in every of my best rivals, we’re on the similar age. We performed in all the most important phases in our sport so I can’t wait to be on the market subsequent season.”
After not profitable a Grand Slam this yr and seeing Sinner and Alcaraz utterly dominate the Grand Slam scene, Djokovic will certainly be decided to make a splash on the Australian Open. And that might be an ideal method to kick off his partnership with Murray.
