Novak Djokovic drops verdict on Andy Murray's future as coach, needs 'time to cool off': 'Both disappointed'
29 days ago | 5 Views
India, Jan. 24 -- The audience at Rod Laver Arena was taken aback following the first set of the men's semi-final match at the Australian Open 2025, featuring Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. After narrowly losing the first set 6(5)-7(7), the former World No. 1 unexpectedly declared his withdrawal from the match due to an injury. In the subsequent press conference, Djokovic disclosed that he was experiencing a muscle tear and intended to seek medical evaluation upon leaving Australia.
However, the crowd in Melbourne expressed their discontent on Friday when he retired due to injury. Booing ensued, to which he responded with a thumbs-up gesture as he exited to the locker room. During a courtside interview, Zverev attempted to calm the audience, urging them not to boo a player of Djokovic's stature. The injury had been sustained during his quarter-final victory against Carlos Alcaraz. Nevertheless, former player John McEnroe accused Djokovic of feigning the injury to gain a strategic advantage over his opponents.
For the upcoming season, Djokovic has incorporated former player and rival Andy Murray into his coaching team. Murray, who announced his retirement following the 2024 Paris Olympics, commenced his coaching role with Djokovic in Melbourne earlier this month. He was present on the sidelines during Djokovic's matches, including the semi-final, in the coaching pods.
Upon Djokovic's withdrawal from the match, Murray appeared visibly disappointed and disheartened by the decision. Consequently, during the post-match press conference, Djokovic was queried about whether Murray, also a former World No. 1, would remain as his coach for the current season.
I am uncertain. Both of us experienced disappointment regarding the recent events, which is why we did not discuss our future actions. As you are aware, we have just come off the court. I intend to speak with Andy to express my gratitude for his support and to share my positive feedback with him. I will also inquire about his feelings so that we can determine our next steps together. Given our current emotional state, it is challenging to shift our focus and engage in discussions about plans. I believe it would be beneficial for both of us to take some time to calm down before having that conversation, he stated.
Murray and Djokovic were fierce competitors during Murray's playing days; however, they have developed a friendship in recent years. They have met on the court 36 times, with Djokovic holding a 25-11 advantage. He has a record of 5-1 on clay, 20-9 on hard courts, and 0-2 on grass.
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# NovakDjokovic # AlexanderZverev # Australia