At first, the news alert felt like a Fool’s Day joke: “Andy Murray to coach Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open,” it read. Murray’s first move after retirement will be a step into the unknown. After taking the time he wanted at home after ending his playing career at the Olympics, he has found the pull of the game too strong to resist. A former rival can appear to be an unlikely ally: Djokovic defeated Murray in four Australian Open finals, now he has appointed a rookie coach to help his bid to win an 11th.
But a new partnership has deep roots. Murray and Djokovic were born a week apart in May 1987 and they met for the first time at the age of 11 playing at a junior tournament in France. A friendship was formed and when they both went to the Australian Open for the first time, in 2006, they played doubles together. A return to Melbourne as player-coach will come 19 years after that first-round exit. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter,” Djokovic said in a video posted on his social media channels, as he welcomed “one of my toughest opponents” into his corner.
