Carlos Alcaraz Gives Verdict On Novak Djokovic Appointing Andy Murray As Coach
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Novak Djokovic's hiring of Andy Murray as his coach until at least the end of the Australian Open led to a humorous response from Carlos Alcaraz.
Jannik Sinner was the most dominant ATP player in 2024 and became the fastest man to guarantee the No. 1 ranking since Djokovic's dominant 2015 season. It was a breakthrough year for the Italian.
Alcaraz's French Open and Wimbledon titles meant he had the second-most successful ATP 2024 season. The Spaniard, who is just 21, has already won four Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic failed to secure a Grand Slam during a season for the first time since 2017 in 2024. However, the Serbian did claim an Olympic gold medal, an achievement that had eluded him for many years.
Although Alcaraz and Djokovic enjoyed success in 2024, both men have made changes to their respective teams to try and prevent Sinner from achieving the same dominance he managed this season, especially on hard courts.
Tennis fans worldwide were stunned by Djokovic's decision to hire Murray. There had been no rumors in the media beforehand, and Murray has never coached a professional player.
Djokovic thinks Murray is the perfect choice because he can relate to what players experience on the biggest stages. The Briton is a three-time Grand Slam champion and played Djokovic in seven major finals.
Alcaraz's coaching addition did not receive the same attention, but it was still notable. The two-time Wimbledon winner hired Samuel Lopez, Pablo Carreno Busta's coach for nine years, as his second coach.
Lopez will work alongside Alcaraz's longtime coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. He has assisted the ATP world No. 3 at a few tournaments in the past, but Lopez will now help the young star more regularly.
Alcaraz and Ferrero might need to consider how to counter the influence Murray could have on Djokovic from the sidelines. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was one of the most tactically astute players in the game during his career.
Speaking to reporters at the Madison Square Garden, where he defeated Ben Shelton in an exhibition, Alcaraz joked that it will feel like he is competing against Djokovic and Murray during matches against the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
“It’s like I’m going to be playing against them two. It’s going to be incredible for tennis.”
Djokovic's hiring of coaches with experience on the most significant stages has worked in the past. He had a successful spell with Boris Becker before achieving more in a five-year spell with Goran Ivanisevic.
The fear factor caused by Djokovic, broadly seen as the greatest player in tennis history, having other legends of the sport in his corner might have intimidated some opponents.
Reports indicate that Murray is unlikely to travel with Djokovic for the Brisbane International, his opening tournament of 2025, although those rumors have yet to be confirmed by either man.
However, it would not be surprising since Murray was hired to help Djokovic at the most significant tournaments, most notably the four Grand Slams.
