"Novak and I agreed that after the tournament, we would speak" – Andy Murray and Djokovic reflect on partnership after Australian Open exit

The tennis world was set alight when it was announced that Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic would be teaming up at the beginning of the year. Long-time rivals turned allies, and many wondered how their partnership would play out.

Djokovic looked to be in fine form throughout the Australian Open. Yet, during his semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev, the Serbian withdrew from the contest due to a muscle tear. The defeat has left fans and pundits alike wondering what this means for Djokovic and Murray's professional relationship in the future.

Novak Djokovic exits

Djokovic came to Melbourne in the hunt for the 11th Australian Open title. The Serbian looked great throughout the tournament, winning against Carlos Alcaraz. Many people were excited to see the clash between Djokovic and Zverev. Fans at the Rod Laver Arena were treated to a gruelling first set, which lasted 81 minutes, and Djokovic successfully defended five break points.

Unfortunately, the crowd would only enjoy one action set, as the discomfort from a muscle tear got too much for the former world number one, forcing him to withdraw from the match.

Read also

"it’s always easier": Novak Djokovic responds John McEnroe comments about faking injury in Australian Open quarterfinal

Andy Murray's thoughts 

Andy Murray 

Of course, the news that Murray and Djokovic were teaming up would garner most of the headlines. However, the two-time Wimbledon champion quickly reminded people that Djokovic has always had a good setup around him, with Murray playing a key role in his team. Murray elaborated on this when speaking to the PA.

They've been a great team,' Murray told PA.

'At times, it feels a little bit embarrassing that, because of my relationship with Novak, how much people talk about that, or when there's a good result or performance, it's because I've helped him.

'I'm fully aware that the team with him has done an incredible job over many years to allow him to still compete at this level at the age that he's at.

Read also

"We are still hotheaded and disappointed": Novak Djokovic set for Andy Murray future talks after abrupt Australian Open end

'They've all been helpful to me. They welcomed me into the team. It's been great to be a part of. I witnessed some fantastic tennis and one of the best matches I've seen live against Alcaraz.

'And it's a steep learning curve for me as well. There are many things that, as a player, are different when you're coaching; there's a lot more that you need to help with in terms of communication around the team.

'You're not just thinking about yourself like you are when you're a player. I've certainly learned a lot, but there's still a lot more for me to learn, and that's for sure.'

He also thought that Djokovic could do something special in this year's tournament if it weren't for the injury and spoke on whether he thinks their partnership will continue.

'I think he was always going to go out there and give it a good shot,' Murray said.

'He didn't train the last couple of days. He practised right before the match and felt good enough to give it a go.

'It was an unfortunate way to finish. The match that he played against Alcaraz was an incredible tennis match. Watching from the side from that close, it was a fantastic performance. He'd have been getting gradually better as the tournament progressed.

'It's hard. When you get to that stage of the tournament, you feel like you're getting very close to something very special, and it's unfortunate if the body's not responding in the way you would like.

'With Novak, there's always hope because of how great a player he is, and he has found ways out of difficult situations before. It just wasn't to be this time.'

'Novak and I agreed that after the tournament, we would speak. We'll do that.'

Djokovic gave his take

it was a post-match press conference, and Djokovic gave his thoughts on the future of his partnership with Murray.

'I don't know. We both were disappointed with what just happened, so we didn't talk about future steps; we were so fresh off the court.

'I will have a chat with Andy, thank him for being here with me, and give him my feedback, which is, of course, positive. See how he feels, and we will take the next step.

'We are still hot-headed and disappointed, so switching the page and discussing the next steps is hard. We both need to cool off a little bit and have a chat.'

Djokovic has shown that he still has what it takes to compete at the top level; it'll be interesting to see what is in store for the legend next.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe