Coach Brad Gilbert says he nonetheless completely remembers when a younger Andy Murray very straight recognized Novak Djokovic because the participant who was giving him probably the most hassle on the courtroom and underlined that nobody else mattered.
When the Briton was simply beginning his professional journey, he employed Andre Agassi’s ex-coach long-time coach and that is how he and the American ended up working between 2006 July and 2007 November.
After being added to the workforce, Gilbert went via some fundamentals with Murray and that included desirous to know if there was a matchup he did not like in any respect. That is when the now-British tennis legend immediately identified to Djokovic.
“I bear in mind him saying, ‘None of these guys matter, it’s solely Novak,'” the American coach advised the ATP web site.
Earlier than Gilbert was introduced in, Murray had misplaced to the Serb on the 2006 Madrid Masters. Whereas it was their first assembly on the ATP Tour, it completely wasn’t the primary time that they clashed towards one another – they have been competing towards one another since their junior days. So by the point they grew to become execs, they already knew one another very nicely and had many battles between them.
Whereas the Briton was working with the American coach, he was overwhelmed by Djokovic twice. In the end, he completed with 11 wins and 25 losses towards the Serb.
Gilbert on the Murray – Djokovic partnership
After being one of many greatest rivals and creating probably the greatest tennis rivalries within the twenty first century, the previous two-time Wimbledon champion and the document 24-time Grand Slam winner are actually set to work collectively.
When the information broke out about their collaboration, many have been excited but additionally had some questions. Up to now, Djokovic labored with coaches with prior expertise – and even when he employed Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic – they have been two former gamers who had been well-retired.
This time, the 37-year-old took a very completely different strategy. And Gilbert is not actually shocked as a result of he had a sense that the Serb would attempt to do one thing in a different way and see if that helps him problem higher Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz subsequent yr.
“I sort of sensed that Novak was going to do one thing. You didn’t know what he was going to do, however you sort of sensed that he most likely wanted one thing, and one thing to inspire him. And clearly he goes means again with Andy. Andy is aware of quite a bit about Novak, is aware of quite a bit concerning the gamers who Novak goes to be chasing. However I feel greater than something, the place Novak is, you’ve obtained these two enormous, younger guys now [Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz] who’ve simply actually elevated and I feel Novak most likely appears like he wants a little bit bit and I feel most significantly, wants that motivation,” the American added.
Gilbert on what to look out for early within the Djokovic and Murray collaboration
Proper now, it’s nonetheless early to present any definitive statements about what could or not occur. However when the general public will get to see their practices and the Serb’s first matches in 2025, that is when some questions is likely to be answered.
“The very first thing I’ll need to do after I’m in Australia is simply go watch Murray and Novak apply. Will probably be fascinating, do they apply collectively? Is he practising with a apply companion? And [I want to see] if I discover something completely different early within the first spherical. As a coach myself and a former participant, I’m sort of fascinated seeing if there’s something completely different instantly,” Gilbert defined.
In the meantime, Djokovic himself admitted that he wanted one thing completely different time. On this case, it was including somebody who was in his place and will perceive him.
“I used to be going via a strategy of desirous about subsequent season previously 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 advised Sky Sports activities.
“We have been going via completely different names and I noticed at this level the proper 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 desirous about a couple of and the Andy Murray dialogue appeared on the desk with my workforce. 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.”
Some experiences indicated that Murray wouldn’t be a part of Djokovic in Brisbane and that their partnership would formally begin on the Australian Open.
