Novak Djokovic ‘shocked’ by Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray and makes retirement vow

Novak Djokovic admits it was a huge ‘shock’ to the tennis community to wave goodbye to Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in the same year. Both tennis icons have now retired after glittering careers in the sport, with Murray surprisingly being named Djokovic’s new coach last week.

Nadal bowed out after the Davis Cup earlier this month, while Murray bid farewell following the summer’s Olympics doubles tournament. Djokovic is the only remaining member of tennis’ so-called Big Three, which included himself, Nadal and Roger Federer, who retired in 2022.

The Serb will turn 38 midway through next year but has no plans to follow his former rivals into a post-playing career any time soon. Ahead of the 2025 campaign, he has appointed Murray as a coach and insists he can still challenge for Grand Slams.

Djokovic told Sky Sports: “We all know that we have to stop and say goodbye to what we’ve done all our lives at some point. Even though it was expected for Andy and Rafa, we knew the end was coming.

“But for both of them saying goodbye to tennis in the same year, it’s a shock for all of us. It’s a shock for the tennis world because they are legends of our sport. Roger a few years ago.