PARIS, France — Novak Djokovic insists the decision to separate with Andy Murray as coach was “mutual” however admits the outcomes weren’t what they hoped whereas they labored collectively.
Djokovic, 38, opens his French Open marketing campaign in opposition to Mackenzie McDonald on Tuesday recent from his a centesimal ATP event triumph in Geneva on Saturday. Djokovic mentioned that win was “a lot wanted for [his] recreation” as he appears to re-find some type after a turbulent begin to 2025 the place he crashed out of the opening rounds of the Madrid Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and Indian Wells.
Murray joined Djokovic as his coach in November, and the 2 labored collectively by means of to Could 13 after they introduced an finish to the partnership. Djokovic has since mentioned the 2 “could not get extra out of the partnership on court docket” and he clarified this additional on Monday in Paris.
“It was mutual,” Djokovic mentioned. “We each wished to have a name and to talk, so we — really, we each have been on the identical web page. So it was not, you already know, his initiative or my initiative. It was each of us coming collectively and simply saying, you already know, I believe we should always cease right here. That is what it was.”
Djokovic noticed Murray on Sunday as they took half in Rafael Nadal’s farewell ceremony.
“He did congratulate me [on Geneva], and he mentioned ‘now that you’ve got a correct coach, you are profitable tournaments,”‘ the Serbian added.
“I do not know, I did not take that as a joke! I imply, in fact he was joking, however, you already know … I believe I’ve mentioned sufficient, however I’ll say it once more: Andy is simply an incredible particular person.
“For him to hitch my crew and for us to offer a shot to this player-coach relationship was actually an unbelievable factor for tennis and for each of us. I used to be very privileged and honored. I used to be having fun with myself very a lot no matter the truth that we have not had possibly the success we each wished or folks anticipated us to have.
“However I nonetheless assume that, you already know, I’ve discovered issues on the court docket with him, I’ve loved my conversations with him about tennis, as a result of I nonetheless assume that he is some of the good tennis IQ guys on the market. Whoever he decides to work with subsequent, if and when, you already know, that participant goes to be fortunate as a result of he has undoubtedly rather a lot to share, a variety of nice insights. It simply did not work out between us when it comes to outcomes, when it comes to what we have been hoping for, and that is all there’s to it.
“Personally, I really loved my time very a lot with him, and I really feel like we’ve got a better relationship due to our working relationship within the final 4, 5 months.”
The 2 stood alongside Roger Federer as a part of Nadal’s farewell ceremony on Sunday on Court docket Phillipe Chatrier. The 4 of them dominated males’s tennis for a lot of this century, and Djokovic is the final man standing with the opposite three retired.
Djokovic mentioned it was an emotional event watching Nadal’s farewell and did lead him to contemplate his personal “finish of the highway.” However he added that he has no plans to step away from the game simply but.
“Effectively, I imply, truthfully I used to be occupied with my finish of the highway as effectively final evening or yesterday once we have been watching Rafa having his speech, significantly these moments once we have been within the again room, the three of us, and I used to be simply, yeah, clearly speaking to Federer and Murray about their goodbyes and reminiscing and reflecting on the rivalries.
“And naturally a part of me is proud that I am nonetheless there, that I am nonetheless going, however on the identical time, I used to be, and I nonetheless am a bit unhappy that they are all gone, as a result of these guys have been my biggest motivations of why I competed so intensely and for therefore lengthy,” he mentioned.
“I do assume that Rafa deserved what he received yesterday in full depth of its glory, and naturally that every certainly one of us goals of being remembered in such means and celebrated, in fact. I do want someday that I can get the sort of goodbye from the world of tennis, for certain. However I did not take into consideration the precise date, if that is what you are on the lookout for!”
