Roger Federer’s former coach Ivan Ljubicic reveals he reached out to Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray after the information of their collaboration broke out and added that he thinks the plan is to have the Briton accompanying the Serb in Grand Slams and infrequently in different large tournaments.
On November twenty third, the document 24-time Main winner dropped an absolute bombshell after revealing that he can be joined by the freshly retired British tennis legend on the Australian Open.
For a few years, these two had been competing in opposition to one another on the most important stage and had top-of-the-line rivalries on the twenty first century. Now simply 4 months after his retirement from professional tennis, Murray is becoming a member of Djokovic’s crew and can attempt to assist the 37-year-old add extra success to his identify.
On paper, there are a number of explanation why this is among the most fascinating and entertaining partnerships in tennis in current historical past.
Ljubicic, a former world No. 3 who retired in 2012, began working with Federer 4 years later when he was simply 37. Their collaboration was successful because the Swiss ended his five-year Slam drought on the 2017 Australian Open and gained two extra Majors to complete with 20 earlier than retiring in 2022.
Now, the Croatian tennis legend is rooting for Murray and Djokovic to additionally see their partnership lead to some large triumphs.
“It is incredible for the game. I wrote a message to each of them to inform them how excited I used to be and that I understood their resolution. I hope the result might be constructive. Murray staying energetic within the sport, I like that. I think about that Andy, who cannot journey for thirty weeks, might be there for the Grand Slams and some vital tournaments. I am excited to see how that works out. We all know how they’re! Who’s going to say what to the opposite? It’s totally fascinating!” Ljubicic informed L’Equipe.
Djokovic wished one thing totally different and he acquired it
After including Goran Ivanisevic to his teaching employees in 2018, the Serb went on so as to add 12 extra Grand Slams to his assortment and obtain his objective of setting a brand new document for probably the most titles in that division. However after a particularly profitable 2023 season, the present world No. 7 did not make an excellent begin to 2024 and it was evident that one thing was simply off.
Round March, rumors began to swirl round that Djokovic was near splitting with Ivanisevic. In April, that certainly occurred. In the remainder of the 12 months, the previous world No. 1 labored briefly with Nenad Zimonjic and another coaches related to the Serbian Tennis Federation.
When the offseason got here and he began making an inventory of potential coaches for 2025, the Serb thought it will be nice if he might discover somebody who was in his place and will perceive him completely. That is when he realized that Murray was the man he was trying to find.
Though the Briton was left surprised by the supply, he could not say no to his outdated rival.
“I used to be going via a means of interested by subsequent season up to now couple of months and determining what I wanted as I finished with my coach Goran Ivanisevic, who I used to be profitable with. I took about six months to suppose if I actually wanted a coach and if sure, who’s that going to be and the profile of the coach,” Djokovic informed Sky Sports activities.
“We had been going via totally different names and I spotted at this level the right coach can be somebody who has been via the experiences I’ve been via. A a number of Grand Slam winner and I used to be interested by just a few and the Andy Murray dialogue appeared on the desk with my crew. I made a decision I’d give him a name and see the way it goes. It caught him off guard a little bit bit as he wasn’t anticipating it.
“We linked actually quick and he accepted it after just a few 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 certainly one of my best rivals, we’re on the identical age. We performed in all the most important levels in our sport so I can’t wait to be on the market subsequent season.”
In keeping with some stories, the previous two-time Wimbledon winner had a number of gives from prime gamers since retiring however he declined all of them earlier than the Serb reached out.
If Djokovic finally ends up successful his eleventh Australian Open title in January, there’s completely little doubt that we’d be seeing extra of Murray in field in the remainder of 2025.
