Andy Murray Reflects on Short-Lived Coaching Stint with Novak Djokovic: “I Was Disappointed”
Andy Murray has never shied away from a challenge-on or off the court. So when the three-time Grand Slam champion stepped into the coaching box for Novak Djokovic just months after retiring from competition, it felt like a bold, yet fitting next chapter. But now, six months later, Murray is looking back on the experience with mixed emotions.
Speaking on The Tennis Podcast, Murray opened up about his brief tenure as part of Djokovic’s coaching team, which began in November 2024 and wrapped up by May 2025. The partnership, though short-lived, spanned six tournaments, including a high-stakes run at the Australian Open.
“I’m glad that I did it,” Murray said. “It didn’t last long, but I put everything into it.
I was disappointed. Probably didn’t get the results I would have liked for him.”
That honesty tracks with what we know about Murray-someone who’s always worn his heart on his sleeve, whether he’s grinding through five-set marathons or navigating life after retirement. Coaching Djokovic, even briefly, was a chance to stay close to the game and test the waters of a post-playing career.
“It was a good opportunity because I felt I wanted to coach at some stage,” Murray added. “If I didn’t take it, I might look back and think it would have been really interesting, I could have learned a lot, or potentially regretted it.”
The coaching stint began with real promise. Djokovic looked sharp early in the Australian Open, including a marquee win over Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
But the momentum didn’t last. A torn left hamstring derailed Djokovic’s campaign in Melbourne, forcing him to retire after just one set against Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.
The injury not only ended his title hopes but also led to a rare moment of tension with fans, as he was booed off the court.
From there, the season never quite found its rhythm. Djokovic returned to action but struggled to regain form. Early exits in Qatar and Indian Wells raised eyebrows, and although he made a run to the Miami Open final, he fell to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik-a surprising result that underscored how far off his usual level he still was.
Murray had initially committed to guiding Djokovic through the clay season, with the French Open as the target. But after first-round losses in Monte Carlo and Madrid, the two decided to part ways.
“It was going well initially, and it was unfortunate what happened in Australia with the injury,” Murray said. “I watched him play ridiculous tennis in that tournament. After the injury, it was certainly a difficult few months for him-but also for the team and all of us.”
Still, Murray isn’t walking away from the experience empty-handed. On the contrary, he sees it as a valuable education in what it takes to coach at the highest level.
“I learned a lot about what coaching is,” he said. “I was fully invested, tried my hardest to help, and made some good relationships along the way with his team.”
For Murray, who spent much of his career battling Djokovic from across the net, the coaching role offered a different kind of insight-one that came with its own challenges, expectations, and lessons. And while the results may not have matched the effort, the experience gave him a firsthand look at the complexities of elite tennis from the other side of the baseline.
Whether this marks the end of Murray’s coaching ambitions or just the beginning remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: even in retirement, he’s not done competing-just in a different arena now.