Djokovic: “Murray brings fresh ideas as new coach”

THE Novak Djokovic declared that his – recently retired from active action – opponent, Andy Murraybrings a unique perspective as his new coach and how he is keen to implement what the two men have discussed as he gets going in his season in Brisbane. Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slam titles, added to his team the Murray and will work with the Scots former world No 1 until the end of the Australian Open (January 12-26), before deciding on their future together.

“He has a unique perspective on my game as one of the biggest opponents I’ve had. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of my game,” said Nole, who recently spent 10 days with Murray in preparation for the 2025 season. Djokovic will be without Murray in Brisbane, but the The 37-year-old Serbian wants to get the most out of his new coach when they reunite ahead of the Australian Open.

“He was playing on the tour until recently, so he knows all the other top players in the world right now, the youngsters and the weaknesses and strengths in their game. I’m really looking forward to it,” Djokovic pointed out and continued, “I think it brings a fresh look to my game and I’ll be able to take advantage of that, without a doubt, on the court. But also that champion mentality that he has, I’m sure we’ll fit in really well.”

THE Djokovic kicks off his duties in Brisbane this week against Australia’s Rinky Hijikata and aims for his 100th title at the level ATPbefore “chasing” the 11th grand slam trophy of his career at the Australian Open. At the same time, the “golden” Olympic champion of Paris is planning a… heavier competition program for 2025, after he has fallen to No. 7 in the world ranking. “I plan to play in a few more tournaments than last season” he said and continued: “Hopefully the level will go up as well and as a result I will be able to win some tournaments and move up my ranking.”

Meanwhile, the experienced Serb has expressed his frustration at being “kept in the dark” about the doping case of world No.1 Janik Sinner, saying it is not a good image for tennis. Anti-doping authorities announced in August that Mr Sinner tested positive in March for the banned substance clostebol, with the Italian cleared by an independent tribunal which accepted his explanation of accidental contamination. Now the 23-year-old Italian faces the possibility of being banned for up to two years, as the World Organization against Doping appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“It’s not a good image for our sport” stressed Djokovic speaking to reporters ahead of the Brisbane International, and continued: “You don’t want to see this. I believe that, in the last 20-plus years of playing on the professional tour, we are one of the cleanest sports. I will continue to believe in this clean sport. I’m just questioning the way the system works, really, and why some players don’t get the same treatment as other players.”.

It is recalled that the incident Sinner was not the only recent high-profile case, as world No. 1 Iga Sviatek accepted a one-month ban, which ended on December 4. OR Poland had tested positive for the substance trimetazidine, a result that the 23-year-old athlete attributed to contamination of her sleep medications. The International Tennis Integrity Organization maintains that all doping cases are dealt with on the basis of facts and evidence and not on the basis of a player’s name, ranking or nationality, but was unable to fend off allegations of two meters and two feet.

“The issue is inconsistency and transparency. We have been left in the dark with Yannick’s case” stressed Djokovic, to conclude: “I do not dispute whether he took the prohibited substance intentionally or not. I believe in a clean sport, I believe the player will do everything possible to play fair. I have known Yannick since he was very young. It doesn’t strike me as someone who would do something like that. But I’m really disappointed, like most of the other players, to see that we’ve been kept in the dark for five months.”

For his part, Greek-Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios said the cases involving Shiner and Sviatek were “disgusting” for the sport and criticized the authorities for what he saw as lenient treatment.

Source: RES-MPE