Andy Murray has revealed how quickly he changed his mind on going into coaching after a phone call with Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic surprisingly announced in November that his former rival Murray will coach him at this year’s Australian Open.
It’s the Brit’s first coaching role since he called time on his career in professional tennis, during which he won three Grand Slams.
Murray agreed to take on the role just three months after playing his final match at the Paris Olympics.
Speaking in Melbourne ahead of Australia’s Grand Slam, he recalled the conversation he had with Djokovic about the job.
“I was actually playing golf,” he said. “We’d actually been exchanging messages. Novak had messaged me just wanting to chat.
“I was on the 17th hole of the golf course and the guy I was playing with said to me, ‘Do you know what’s next?’ I was like, ‘No, not really’.
“He said, ‘Do you have any plans to do any coaching?’ And I said, ‘Honestly, I can’t think of anything worse to do right now’.
“And then 30 minutes later I was in the car and I called Novak, and then we had a conversation and he asked if I would be interested in helping, which I obviously wasn’t expecting.
“I said to him, ‘Look, I need to think about it and talk to my family’.
“So I spoke to them and, after a couple of days, I thought that it was a pretty unique opportunity and experience.”
Murray and Djokovic were long-term rivals on court and met 36 times, with the latter winning on 25 occasions.
The duo are one of two male pairs to have faced each other in all four of the major finals alongside Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Murray’s first ever Grand Slam win came against his coachee at the US Open in 2012 in a five-set victory lasting nearly five hours.
He lost two Australian Open finals against Djokovic in 2011 and 2013 but will work with him at this year’s tournament.
Speaking at the ‘Night with Novak’ charity event on Thursday, he jokingly said he would disrupt Djokovic’s chances of glory this year.
“I played here a few times, could never quite get over the line unfortunately,” he said whilst sitting alongside him.
“This man was single-handedly responsible for that, so I’m now here to try and sabotage his chances of winning another one.”
The Australian Open at Melbourne Park begins on January 12, with the men’s singles draw being revealed earlier today.
World no. seven Djokovic faces wild card entry Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round as he eyes a record-extending 11th title.
Should he reclaim the crown, he will win the 25th Grand Slam of his illustrious career and further cement his status as a tennis legend.
