Novak Djokovic's 2025 season will be special for many reasons, and he might make it even more special with his 25th Grand Slam title.
Although the Serbian legend managed to preserve his body in an incredible way thanks to his diet and approach to his schedule, even he can't beat the time, as his age dangerously nears 40.
Djokovic himself rejected any talks about retirement multiple times, but it's clear that it's closer than further, and it wouldn't be that surprising if he chose to retire after winning his 25th major, which he might also win next year.
To do that, Djokovic enlisted the help of one of the best tennis players in history. He will be coached by former World No. 1 Andy Murray, who was his rival for many years on the ATP Tour.
This collaboration shocked many, as it came out of nowhere, but the two are set to work together at the 2025 Australian Open, where Djokovic will attempt to lift his 11th title in Melbourne and 25th Grand Slam overall.
Nicolas Mahut, who is former doubles World No. 1, spoke about Djokovic's decision to appoint Murray as his coach to Eurosport, admitting that the decision surprised him. At the same time, he was happy to see the pairing of two legends of the sport.
"I was a bit surprised, I won’t hide it, although at the same time, I received the news with great excitement. I’m happy to see Andy back on the circuit, he won’t have been gone for long, it’s like when Novak added [Andre] Agassi or when [Roger] Federer did the same with [Stefan] Edberg."
"To see these legends of the sport come back and help other players is incredible to me. Beyond that, I think it’s very good news for Djokovic and his whole team."
Only recently, Djokovic's chances of winning another Grand Slam didn't seem to be as high as they were in 2023. While he won three out of four majors last year, he didn't win any in 2024.
That was also largely due to the success of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and while Djokovic's chances looked bleak only recently, they significantly improved with Murray's appointment, at least according to Mahut.
"Honestly, I was a bit pessimistic about Novak, I thought he was already heading to the end of his career, I didn’t see him winning Grand Slams in 2025. That’s the feeling I had with him, I’m sure he felt it, himself too."
"In situations where you struggle to find those personal resources within yourself, one tends to look for them outside, that’s why renewing your team can be a trigger."
"This is where Andy, who has been his rival for years, but has known him since they were kids, comes in. I’m sure he’ll give you a big boost and they will both want to do well. Now I have the feeling that we can see a great Novak again."
Murray knows very well how it feels to defeat the odds by winning when it might seem to be impossible, and his appointment might indeed help Djokovic. At the end of the day, the 2025 Australian Open will answer the most questions.
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