Novak Djokovic hires Andy Murray as new coach

Novak Djokovic announced on social media Saturday that longtime friend and rival Andy Murray will be his new coach.

Born one week apart in May 1987, both climbed to the top of the PIF ATP Rankings and battled on the world’s biggest stages. Djokovic and Murray clashed in 36 Lexus ATP Head2Head showdowns, with the former winning 25 of them.

The stars met in 19 finals, including the championship match at seven majors and the 2016 Nitto ATP Finals. They most recently played in the 2017 Doha final.

Murray retired from professional tennis earlier this year at the Paris Olympics.

Djokovic in March announced he had split with his coach of six years, Goran Ivanisevic. Djokovic and Murray will work together in the off season and during the Australian Open and will re-evaluate the partnership after the year's first major in Melbourne.

Narrating a video on his social media channels to announce the partnership, Djokovic said, "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. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach, Andy Murray."

“I’m excited to have one of my greatest rivals in my team, on the same side of the net, this time as my coach," Djokovic said per his official website. I’m looking forward to starting the season together with Andy and having him by my side in Melbourne, where we’ve shared many extraordinary moments throughout our careers."

“I’ll be joining Novak’s team during the preparation period, helping him get in the best possible shape for the Australian Open," Murray said. "I’m very excited about it and I am looking forward to being on the same side of the net for a change. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to assist him in achieving his goals for the coming year."

In 2024 Djokovic recorded a 37-9 match record according to Infosys ATP Stats. In January he will attempt to win an 11th Australian Open title to reach 100 career titles.