Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will have a “very fruitful and positive partnership”, according to Grigor Dimitrov’s coach Daniel Vallverdu.
Tennis great Djokovic caused one of the biggest shocks of the 2024 season when he announced in November that former rival Murray would join his coaching staff ahead of the new season with the news coming just a few months after Murray retired from tennis with his last match coming at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August.
There had also been some question marks over Djokovic’s future as he enjoyed a disappointing season by his usual high standards as he failed to win any titles on the regular ATP Tour.
However, the 24-time Grand Slam did win one tournament he had his heart set on as he won gold for Serbia at the Paris Games.
But now that everyone has digested the news of a Djokovic-Murray partnership, it remains to be seen if it will be a short-term gig or if Djokovic can regain his best form under his new mentor.
Vallverdu, who was part of Murray’s coaching staff from 2010 until 2014, believes Murray will give Djokovic the much-needed inspiration.
“From my perspective I can’t wait to see the outcome and I cannot wait to see how that relationship develops,” he told The National’s Reem Abulleil.
“You never know obviously what the results will be but my sense is that it will be a very fruitful and positive partnership and a very positive coach-player relationship with great results.
“I’m expecting Novak to have an incredible season and to have really good results. I think Andy will bring huge value and it will become a team where they will feel, okay, we the older guys are now having to take on the younger generation with all our knowledge. And knowing them both, they will give everything they have to try and achieve all of Novak’s goals. So it will be very special to watch and I cannot wait.”
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So what will Murray add to Djokovic’s coaching set-up?
Several current and former players have mentioned Murray’s brilliant tennis IQ and Vallverdu knows all too well about the three-time Grand Slam winner’s intelligence and knowledge.
“I think he brings a lot – and a lot more than people can think of as a first impression,” the Venezuelan, who oversaw Dimitrov’s return to the top 10 in 2024 following a lean couple of years, said.
“I think he will bring motivation, he will bring a sense of, it’s them against the younger boys. It will bring a sense of having someone by his side that has not only been through similar situations that he has, but who has been alongside him when he’s been going through these situations and also on the other side of the court.
“He will bring incredible tennis knowledge and incredible tennis IQ, which between the two of them, in my opinion, they’re currently two players – and Andy being an ex-player – that have the highest tennis IQ, they’re just two brilliant tennis minds.”
