Djokovic and Murray conclude coaching chapter: End of a Grand Slam alliance

The tennis community was taken by surprise in late 2024 when the two former on-court arch-rivals, who famously battled in numerous Grand Slam finals, announced their collaboration ahead of a December training block. The venture began with promise; an injury-hampered Djokovic delivered a remarkable performance to overcome Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-finals in January 2025, before an injury forced his withdrawal from his subsequent match against Alexander Zverev.

During this period in Melbourne, Djokovic was effusive in his praise for Murray's work ethic and the renewed motivation his former adversary had helped him discover, leading them to extend their trial with an eye towards working together at least until Wimbledon.

However, since recovering from that injury, the 37-year-old Serb has encountered significant difficulties in recapturing his dominant form. After a string of three consecutive losses leading into the Miami Open, where he eventually fell in the final to Jakub Mensik, Djokovic has since endured another three-match losing streak. These included straight-sets defeats in the opening rounds of prestigious tournaments in Monte Carlo and Madrid to Alejandro Tabilo (world No. 32) and Matteo Arnaldi (world No. 44) respectively. Following his latest setback, Djokovic opted to withdraw from the Italian Open.

"It's kind of a new reality for me, I have to say," Djokovic confessed in Madrid, reflecting on his current struggles. "Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament. It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis, so it’s kind of a challenge for me mentally to really face these sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments."

In a bid to regain momentum before the French Open, Djokovic has accepted a wildcard into next week's Geneva Open. Announcing the split, Djokovic stated, "Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun & support over last six months on & off the court, really enjoyed deepening our friendship together." Murray reciprocated the sentiment: "Thanks to Novak for the unbelievable opportunity to work together and thanks to his team for all their hard work over the past six months. I wish Novak all the best for the rest of the season."