By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Photograph credit score: Matthew Calvis
Two major causes satisfied Andy Murray to educate Novak Djokovic.
The 2-time Olympic gold-medal champion views the Grand Slam king as “the most effective athletes of all time” and believes teaching Djokovic is a once-in-a-lifetime alternative.
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In a wide-ranging new interview with Sporting Misadventures with Chris Hoy, Murray shares why he agreed to educate his former rival, the 2 surprisingly biggest calls for he felt teaching the 10-time Australian Open champion finally month’s AO and the one champion he’d dream of teaching.
“I take into account [Novak] to be the most effective athletes of all time so to have the chance to assist him to educate him is one thing I didn’t really feel I may flip down as a result of I won’t get that likelihood [again],” Murray advised Chris Hoy on his podcast. “Who is aware of how for much longer he can be enjoying?”
Although Murray had a well-earned repute as one of many fittest man in tennis—and one of the crucial considerate and candid champions in interviews—he shared two surprisingly demanding areas that challenged him in his teaching debut Down Beneath.
Murray stated he watched a lot video of Djokovic’s opponents, he felt drained and drained from “overpreparing” and stated speaking clearly with the 37-year-old Serbian famous person’s whole staff was an preliminary problem although he felt he improved because the match progressed.
“I loved the matches. I loved sitting on the facet watching matches from a distinct perspective,” Murray advised Chris Hoy. “I loved the evaluation and getting ready, planning, the technique and every thing. I actually preferred that. I additionally discovered it very demanding.
“I’m clearly very inexperienced as a coach so there’s a lot of issues once you’re a participant you don’t notice that every one coaches are interested by and having to do. I’m a poor communicator, it’s one thing I’ve all the time struggled with however then once you’re a part of a staff and also you’re main the staff it’s actually essential that you just’re speaking effectively with individuals and giving them clear course.
“So I believe I did an okay job with that however I discovered that onerous, very demanding. I additionally did a fairly unhealthy job. I spent approach an excessive amount of time in my room watching movies of tennis and virtually like over analyzing matches, like over-preparing somewhat bit so I discovered myself getting fairly drained.
“I did a greater job in direction of the top of the match with that, like that is an excessive amount of. ‘Give your self a break, get to the health club, go for a stroll, go and hit just a few golf balls’. It was a great expertise, I discovered lots from it. I discovered it exhausting, I discovered it demanding.”
Delighted to be joined by @andy_murray on the podcast this week to speak retirement, teaching Novak Djokovic, snowboarding rescues, golf mishaps and many extra. https://t.co/x5V078iuit pic.twitter.com/dzJH8V36LA
— Matt Majendie (@mattmajendie) February 12, 2025
Requested to choose one legendary Large 3 champion he’d dream of teaching at his finest, Murray named 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.
“That is an incredible query; I believe most likely Roger as a result of I believe he’s in a position to take action a lot with the tennis ball,” Murray stated. “[Federer] had so, so many choices. To be truthful Novak is admittedly good with this as effectively, which is one motive it would not’ actually matter who’s teaching these guys offered you’re giving them clear course…
“I believe teaching Roger would have been enjoyable as a result of… he simply has the entire pictures. So you can ask him to do one thing and he may do it, basically.”
Hearken to Andy Murray’s full interview, together with his coming-tragic bout of dirrhea whereas taking a drug take a look at, on Sporting Misadventures with Chris Hoy right here.