Murray’s impression of Djokovic, 18 years ago: ‘No one matters, only him’ | ATP Tour

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Murray’s impression of Djokovic, 18 years ago: ‘No one matters, only him’

Brad Gilbert, former coach of the Briton, analyzes his arrival to the Serbian team

December 06, 2024

Brad Gilbert remembers asking Andy Murray an important question in 2006, when he began training the Scot: which opponents had given him the most problems? Nearly two decades later, Gilbert still remembers Murray’s response.

“I remember him saying, ‘None of those guys matter, just Novak,’” Gilbert told ATPTour.com.

Curiously. Murray is now teaming up with rival Djokovic, and they will be seen working together in competition from the start of next season in Australia. According to Gilbert, it’s an appropriate move.

“I kind of felt like Novak was going to do something. You didn’t know what he was going to do, but you sort of felt like he probably needed something, and something to motivate him. And he obviously has a long relationship with Andy,” Gilbert said.

“Andy knows a lot about Novak, he knows a lot about the players Novak is going to pursue. You’ve got these two great guys now. [Jannik Sinner y Carlos Alcaraz] “They’ve really risen and I think Novak probably feels like he needs a little bit more and I think most importantly, he needs that motivation.”

Murray, who retired at the Paris Olympics earlier this year, and 99-time tour champion Djokovic faced each other 36 times in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. The Belgrade native won 25 of those matches. They fought on the world’s biggest stages, including seven Grand Slam finals.

Gilbert, a former No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings, also knows what it’s like to make a quick transition from the court to the coach’s box. He retired as a player in 1994, the same year he began coaching Andre Agassi. Instantly, Gilbert learned a valuable training lesson.

“You are the coach, looking through the lens of the player you are coaching. I was like, “I would do X, Y and Z, but Andre doesn’t play like me, so I can’t think of what I would do. I have to think about what Andre needed to do.”

Djokovic. Murray, born a week apart in May 1987, are not the first pair of former No. 1s to join forces. In fact. Murray is the third former No. 1 to be in Djokovic’s corner. The Serbian has also worked with Agassi and Boris Becker.

With an entire preseason to refine new strategies and tactics, Djokovic’s start to the season will be particularly exciting. The 37-year-old will begin his 2025 campaign in Brisbane.

“The first thing I’ll want to do when I’m in Australia is go see . Murray and Novak practice,” Gilbert said. “It will be interesting, will you practice together? Will you be practicing with a practice partner? AND [quiero ver] I do notice something different at the beginning of the first round. As a coach and former player, I’m fascinated to see if there’s something different right away.”