Is ‘legend’ Murray the key for more Djokovic success at the Australian Open?
Novak Djokovic has had little trouble succeeding at the Australian Open. Yet the record 10-time champion will now look to longtime rival turned coach Andy Murray in pursuit of further glory at the first major of the year.
“He gives me motivation [and] inspires me to be spending time on the court,” Djokovic said of Murray. “There’s a lot of communication about every shot in the game, my game, tactics, mental approach, communication on the court during matches, practice sessions.
“He’s very meticulous, a very dedicated professional. So far I’ve been enjoying this collaboration.”
Djokovic, who is preparing for his 20th appearance at the Australian Open, will hope that their partnership brings more than just enjoyment. With an insatiable appetite for success, the 37-year-old is bidding to clinch a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title – a triumph in Melbourne would also secure his status as the third man to reach 100 tour-level titles (Connors 109, Federer 103).
“I think that his unique perspective on my game is the fact that he has played me for 25 years,” said Djokovic, who leads Murray 25-11 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “First time we faced each other was when we were 12 years old. He knows the evolution of my game, I guess the weaknesses and strengths of my game.
“We talk about a lot of different things. He’s trying to understand me on different levels. He also knows the game, the tennis game, of the biggest players in the world right now because he has just recently retired as a player.
”He has done an incredible job, particularly after he got the surgery, his artificial hip, winning tournaments after that, playing at Challenger level. [He is] someone that is a legend of the sport, just showing everyone what it means to be a champion in a real sense of that word.”
