Andy Murray explains shock decision to end his retirement for Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has appointed Andy Murray as his coach for the upcoming Australian Open which will kick off in mid-January.

The two tennis greats, who were once fierce competitors, will now join forces as Djokovic aims to secure an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title in Melbourne. Djokovic confirmed the partnership, expressing his enthusiasm about teaming up with a former rival.

"I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach," he said. "Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil."

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The Serbian star also took to Instagram to share a throwback picture with Murray, captioning it with a playful nod to Murray's brief retirement: "He never liked retirement anyway," shared with his 15.6 million followers.

Murray, who hung up his racquet after the 2024 Paris Olympics, is equally thrilled about the collaboration: "I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open.

"I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals".

As a devoted father of four, Murray dedicated time to his family, yet recently, he expressed no regrets over stepping back from tennis to feed a different sportive hunger—golf. The Dunblane native stays active by hitting the golf courses, even sharing progress updates with his hefty Instagram fanbase of 2.2 million, providing glimpses into his burgeoning skillset.

But he is now set to return to the tennis court in a surprising turn of events.