NOVAK DJOKOVIC’S PARTNERSHIP WITH ANDY MURRAY SENDS ‘STRONG MESSAGE’ TO RIVALS BEFORE AUSTRALIAN OPEN SAYS MATS WILANDER
Former Grand Slam champion and commentator Mats Wilander has said Novak Djokovic’s surprise decision to bring Andy Murray into his box for the Australian Open is an “excellent move”. The former rivals will team up at the year’s first major to attempt to add a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title to Djokovic’s extensive trophy collection, sending a “strong message” to the Serb’s younger rivals.
Mats Wilander described Novak Djokovic’s surprise coaching partnership with Andy Murray as an “excellent move” and an indication that the 24-time major winner “thinks his best tennis is still ahead of him”, with more Grand Slam victories likely to be the goal.
Djokovic and Murray, who met in seven Grand Slam singles finals, announced the move earlier this week, with the news greeted with widespread surprise.
The Scot only retired from tennis earlier this year, but will now team up with his former rival in the build-up to the Australian Open in January 2025, a tournament Djokovic has won a record 10 times.
“My first reaction was that Novak Djokovic wants to win more Grand Slam tournaments,” Wilander told Eurosport.
“Obviously to all of us that are tennis fans, we would love to see him win 25 Grand Slam titles and be considered the best of all time. So with Andy Murray helping him, I say that he thinks he can still win Grand Slam tournaments in 2025, and maybe even 2026.”
Wilander, a seven-time major winner himself, thought Murray’s appointment to the coaching team would give Djokovic an edge over his younger rivals after a season in which the veteran has largely fallen behind.
