Why Andy Murray will struggle to inspire Novak Djokovic to Australian Open title
Share:
Novak Djokovic is no stranger to hitting the headlines as arguably the greatest player to ever grace a tennis court but the bombshell news that he had appointed long-term adversary Andy Murray as his new coach was extraordinary even by his explosive standards.
![[Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) hits a return as coach Andy Murray (R) looks on during a training session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 7, 2025. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE-- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235238744-0270.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The two iconic stars, who were born just seven days apart, have teamed up in Melbourne as Djokovic seeks to make history by winning an 11th Australian Open and eclipsing the record of 24 grand-slam singles titles he shares with Margaret Court. If he is successful the 37-year-old Serbian will defy Father Time to become the oldest player to win a slam since Ken Rosewall won the last of his eight major titles in this tournament in 1972 at the same age.
![[2024 Australian Open Womens Champion Media Opportunity]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1958545805.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Murray retired after the Paris Olympics in August and follows fellow former world No.1 Boris Becker in guiding Djokovic at the first major of the year and he faces a tough task as 2024 was a rollercoaster year for his old buddy. Djokovic did not win a grand-slam title for the first time since 2017 and it was the first season since 2005 that he did not even triumph at an ATP tournament, but he did claim the Olympic gold medal he coveted for the first time in his scintillating career.
Murray has been brought in to ‘bring a fresh look’ to Djokovic’s game and his vast experience as a three-time grand-slam winner and double Olympic champion could lead to a fairytale triumph at 9/2 with Ladbrokes and Coral. But the harsh reality is it will take a Herculean effort even by Novak’s incredible standards to power past defending champion Jannik Sinner. The Italian won 73 matches last year, losing just six times as he won three of the four slams while also reaching the last four at Wimbledon and the 23-year-old world No.1 is the man to beat at 13/8 with SpreadEx.
