Tennis legends Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have ended their coaching partnership just six months after it began, the pair announced Tuesday, bringing an unexpected collaboration between two former rivals to a close, Al Jazeera reports.
Djokovic, 37, surprised the tennis world in November when he brought in Murray — a three-time Grand Slam champion with no prior coaching experience — to lead his off-court team. The move marked a new chapter for Murray, who had recently retired from professional tennis and was exploring life beyond the tour.
Despite a promising start, including a high-profile victory over Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open, Djokovic’s season has since faltered. The 24-time Grand Slam winner was forced to retire from his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev due to injury and has struggled to regain form, losing in the opening round of his last two tournaments.
“Thanks to Novak for the unbelievable opportunity to work together and thanks to his team for all their hard work over the past six months,” Murray said in a statement. “I wish Novak all the best for the rest of the season.”
Djokovic, for his part, expressed gratitude to Murray, saying:
“Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun and support over the last six months on and off the court. I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together.”
The two players, both 37, have a storied rivalry dating back over a decade. Murray famously defeated Djokovic in the finals of the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon, claiming two of his three Grand Slam titles. He reached world No. 1 in 2016 before injuries began to limit his career.
Their professional parting comes less than two weeks before the 2025 French Open begins on May 25 at Roland Garros in Paris, where Djokovic will now compete without Murray in his coaching box.
The latest news in your social feeds
Subscribe to our social media platforms to stay tuned