Andy Roddick has weighed in on the news that Andy Murray will join Novak Djokovic’s coaching team ahead of the Australian Open.
The surprise announcement came last weekend, with the great rivals set to team up for what will be Murray’s first coaching role.
Murray – a three-time Grand Slam champion himself – will be aiming to help Djokovic win a record-extending 11th Australian Open and 26th Grand Slam crown in January 2025.
The Serbian tennis star confirmed the news in a social media post, and joked that his new coach ‘never liked retirement anyway’.
Before Murray called time on his own career, the pair went head-to-head on plenty of occasions.
Djokovic boasts an impressive 25-11 record in their matches, and beat the Brit in five separate Major finals.
Murray, however, did claim memorable victories to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013.
So, why has Djokovic decided to turn to his old rival for help in 2025?
The answer, according to Andy Roddick, is tennis IQ.
“Novak doesn’t need a babysitter,” the former World No. 1 said on his Served podcast.
“He doesn’t need someone to teach him professionalism, he doesn’t need someone to teach him how to hit a forehand or a backhand.
“He needs a strategist, an IQ mind that he can bounce ideas off and work on very specific things for very specific match ups.”
Tennis journalist, and Roddick’s co-host Jon Wertheim, echoed Roddick’s thoughts during the discussion, describing Murray as a ‘genius in Djokovic’s corner’.
“He’s also really good at communicating, and if you talk tennis with him, you end up smarter at the end of the conversation,” Wertheim added.
“The real strength of Murray is that he’s able to figure out a way to message these things. Whatever he’s seeing, he’s going to figure out a way to convey them to Novak in the most efficient and effective way.”
Murray’s decision to team up with Djokovic is incredibly exciting and according Roddick, he turned down the opportunity to coach ‘top’ ATP and WTA players before the news was announced.
“I’ve heard, and it’s not my place to say, top players male and female, Murray has said no to many over these past four months,” he explained.
“The other people who were asking were on the top of the pile too. They were high-high-high ranked men and women from what I’ve heard.”
If Murray is able to help Djokovic go further in the Australian Open than last year’s semifinal defeat, even more top stars could come calling.
