Andy Murray on Novak Djokovic chat that convinced him to become rival's coach – 'I couldn't think of anything worse'
Andy Murray has said that he "couldn't think of anything worse" than coaching - before a phone call with Novak Djokovic changed his mind.
The Scots hero, who retired from tennis last year, made a shock switch into coaching as he joined long-term pal and rival Djokovic's team for the Australian Open - and the new partnership will face a huge early test, after the Serbian superstar was handed a monster route to the final. The 37-year-old is on the same side of the draw as Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, and could face the Spaniard at the quarter-final stage - before a potential semi-final blockbuster against number one seed Jannik Sinner.
And Dunblane star Murray has revealed how his partnership with Djokovic came about on the eve of the Australian Open, saying that he had no interest in coaching before a quick phone call with his long-term rival changed his mind. He said "So I was actually playing golf, and we'd actually been exchanging messages," reports the Daily Express.
"Novak had messaged me, just wanting to chat. It was just before Shanghai, and we'd exchanged messages and missed calls and stuff. Then eventually, I was on the 17th hole of the golf course, and the guy I was playing with said to me, 'Do you know what's next?'. I was like, 'No, not really'.
"He said, 'Do you have any plans to do any coaching?' And I said, 'Honestly, I can't think of anything worse to do right now'. And then 30 minutes later, I was in the car and I called Novak, and then we had a conversation, and he asked if I would be interested in helping, which I obviously wasn't expecting."
The pair face a huge early test with Djokovic given nightmare draw for the Australian Open, which puts him on course for a blockbuster semi-final meeting with Carlos Alcaraz. Veteran Djokovic and 21-year-old Alcaraz have developed a strong rivalry in recent years, with the pair meeting in the final of Wimbledon and then the Olympics in 2024 - and sharing a title each. After a statement victory at the All England Club for the Spaniard, Djokovic bounced back to win gold in Paris - and maintains the slight edge with four wins to three for Alcaraz.
Before he can start planning revenge for Wimbledon and a record-extending 11th Australian Open title, four of which came after victories against Murray, the Serb will have to overcome a first round clash against wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy of the USA.
Meanwhile rising Scottish star Jacob Fearnley has one of the more eye-catching first round draws, with the British No.3 handed a clash with controversial home favourite Nick Kyrgios - if the Aussie ace can overcome an injury that has forced him to withdraw from a Novak Djokovic led charity event. If Kyrgios can get fit in time it will be his first home Grand Slam since 2022 when the former world No.13 beat Liam Broady in straight sets in the opening round. Broady afterwards said the match was an “awful experience” whilst Kyrgios labelled it "like playing in a zoo”.
