Coach Andy! Murray starts work with Novak Djokovic as tennis legends team up… after he was dubbed ‘bald and old by rival who is unimpressed by his retirement ‘circus’

Andy Murray shocked the tennis world in November last year when he announced he would coach Novak Djokovic in one of the most sensational appointments in the sport’s history.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, 37, who retired from playing in August 2024 after a glittering 19-year career, is part of his long-time rival’s coaching set-up for the Australian Open.

The two were pictured on the practice court on Tuesday, as Djokovic chases his record-extending 11th major down under and 25th overall.

The Serbian kicked off his season last week in Brisbane with a defeat by Reilly Opelka. The 37-year-old will find out his first-round opponent in Melbourne on Thursday when the draw is made at 14:30 local time (01:30 GMT).

Murray called time on his 19-year career last summer, with a final doubles run-out alongside partner Dan Evans at the Olympic Games in Paris. 

He was serenaded after his final match at Wimbledon, with the LTA announcing that Centre Court at the Queen’s Club will be renamed ‘Andy Murray Arena’ during the ATP and WTA tournaments there from 2025 onwards.

Kazakh star Alexander Bublik took aim at his former foe and accused Murray of ‘grasping’ at the past with his decision to train Djokovic. 

The world No 33 also had words for Rafael Nadal, describing his and Murray’s retirement as a ‘circus’.

In November, Nadal, 38, gave a speech and a video montage was played of his career highlights at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. As well as this, the Spaniard received personal messages from some greats of the game, including Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic.

‘Now [Murray] has joined Novak Djokovic’s team,’ Bublik said. ‘These are attempts to grasp at something that no longer exists, to some echoes of the past. I think this is a problem.’

‘Yes, I want to leave at the peak,’ he added.

‘It is clear that I am not Rafa, my legacy will be much smaller, if it can be called such. What happened to Andy Murray and Rafa was a circus.

‘I can’t call it anything else. People have achieved everything, even we tennis players looked at them with our mouths open in the locker room – and then you see one of them bald and old.

‘It is clear that he is no longer the same and will never be the same. In my opinion, this is even a shame, not a circus. Probably, it would be more correct to say so. Although Rafa still left normally.’

Djokovic beat Murray in four Australian Open finals, a competition he has won 10 times on his way to 24 Grand Slam titles. 

The world No 7 endured a difficult season in 2024, failing to win a major in a calendar year for the first time since 2017, but he did win a long-awaited gold medal at the Olympics, which he described as his ‘greatest achievement’.

Murray famously twice beat Djokovic in Grand Slam finals — to lift the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 — and succeeded him as world No 1 in 2016.

It was Djokovic, though, who would have the edge over Murray in Grand Slam finals, beating him in Australia in 2011, 2013, 2015 and then in 2016 as well as at the French Open in the same year.

Their rivalry dates back to their teenage years, when they attended training camp together and Murray later won the first matchup between them as juniors. 

In their professional careers, Djokovic boasted a 25-11 lead in their head-to-head records. 

Only a week apart in age, Djokovic and Murray partnered in doubles at the Australian Open, both aged 19, in 2006.

Murray has maintained respect for his long-time competitor, even posting a tribute to him on social media after he announced his retirement in July.

‘Rivals, doubles partners, friends and lovers? Thanks for the 25 years of competition and good luck for rest of your career,’ the Scot said.

After it was announced that they would work together this year, the duo each expressed their excitement to not be facing each other on opposite ends of the court.

‘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,’ said Murray.

‘We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits,’ said Djokovic.

‘We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner.’