LONDON: Novak Djokovic has hired a new coach – longtime friend and rival Andy Murray, who retired from competitive tennis this summer.
Djokovic split with coach Goran Ivanisevic after six years earlier this summer, and he's counting on Murray to help him prepare for the Australian Open, which begins Jan 14 in Melbourne.
"We played each other since we were boys. Twenty-five years of being rivals. Of pushing each other beyond our limits," Djokovic said in a video posted to his website, which started with a photo of the two early in their careers.
Murray and Djokovic are contemporaries, both born in May 1987.
"We had some of the most epic battles in our sport," Djokovic said. "They called us game-changers, risk-takers, history-makers. I thought our story may be over. It turns out it has one final chapter. It's time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach Andy Murray."
Murray and Djokovic, both former No. 1 players in the world, met 36 times on the ATP Tour, with Djokovic posting 25 wins. They played in seven Grand Slam finals with Djokovic victorious in five of them.
Murray retired from tennis earlier this year following the Olympics in Paris, where Djokovic won his first gold medal in singles.
In Melbourne, Djokovic will be seeking his 11th title and his 25th win in a major. He lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinal round in January, a year after defeating Stefanos Tsistipas of Greece in straight sets for his 10th Australian Open trophy. - REUTERS