He was never going to stay on the golf course for long. As much as Andy Murray has enjoyed sending his handicap plummeting towards scratch, a man never forgets his first passion and the boy from Dunblane has always been head over heels in love with tennis.
Still, it would have taken something special to lure the 37-year-old back after less than four months of retirement — and it doesn’t get much more special than this. On Saturday night came the news that Murray will coach Novak Djokovic through his attempt to win an 11th Australian Open title. Even for a notorious eccentric like the Serb it is quite the flight of fancy: a storyline from tennis fan fiction made into thrilling reality.
In an Instagram video posted with highlights of their rivalry, Djokovic narrated: ‘We played each other since we were boys. Twenty-five years of being rivals, pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game changers, risk takers, history makers. I thought our story may be over. It turns out it has one final chapter.’
There is poetry in the fact that the 37-year-old, with the sunset of his career on the horizon, has turned to a man he has known from the beginning. Born exactly a week after Murray, these two grew up competing as juniors and played 36 times as professionals.
Djokovic was cordial with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer but he was always closest to Murray. They at times shared a feeling of being outsiders and, with their dominant backhands, aggressive return game and counter-punching styles, there were many similarities in their play.
So there is an element of sentiment to this appointment but it is also a statement of intent. There were rumours this autumn that Djokovic’s focus was drifting; with an Olympic gold inlaid as the final jewel in his crown, they said, what more is left for him to do?
Andy Murray (right) is going to coach Novak Djokovic in one of tennis’ most surprising stories
It is quite the flight of fancy, a storyline from tennis fan fiction made into thrilling reality
Djokovic is serving notice that he is ready to launch one last push to overhaul his current rivals
By making such a left-field and risky appointment, Djokovic is serving notice that he is ready to make one last push to overhaul Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz — and that Murray is the man to help him do it.
The Scot has the potential to be an exceptional coach. His tennis IQ, his reading of the game is as good as anyone in history and he has an obsessive interest in every aspect of the sport. From statistics to racket technology to training methods, Murray was never willing to take a coach’s word for it: he had to see it, test it for himself.
What a start this is to his coaching career. If he does decide to make it his calling for the foreseeable future then how better to begin than by tapping into the brain of the best player of all time.
Djokovic said on Saturday: ‘I’m looking forward to the start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on Australian soil.’
Those moments may have been exceptional for Djokovic but they were miserable for Murray. They met five times in Melbourne and Djokovic won all five, including four finals. If Djokovic is to add a 25th Grand Slam next year then surely his best chance will be Down Under, and in Murray he has turned to the man who pushed him closer than anyone else there.
Watching these two big personalities interact will be fascinating. United in their thirst for success they are in many ways very different people: Djokovic is earnest and spiritual; Murray dry and earthy.
A social media video they did during lockdown summed up the contrast. They were asked about the first thing they do when they wake up and Djokovic said: ‘Gratitude and prayer, a couple of long deep breaths, hugging my wife and running to my children.’ What about you Andy? ‘I go for a pee.’
The two have always been good friends, feeling like outsiders with similar styles of playing
At 39, Djokovic is looking to overhaul threat of Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Jannik Sinner (right)
Time will tell what the appointment will bring, but the partnership has potential to be special
But they say opposites attract and, while their deal is only until the end of the Australian Open, if all goes well — if Murray can coach Djokovic to the title — why would either man cut the cord?
If this partnership can live up to its billing, Murray could return to Wimbledon in one of those seats from which his long-suffering coaches felt the lash of his tongue.
Djokovic is not averse to a spot of raving at the coaching box, either: would he turn his fire on an old friend? There are a few former employees of Sir Andy who might raise a smile to see the tennis shoe on the other foot for once.
