Novak Djokovic Ends Partnership with Andy Murray Amid Slump, Andy Roddick Weighs In
Late last year, Novak Djokovic shocked the tennis world by announcing Andy Murray—not as a rival across the net—but as his new coach. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, with 99 ATP titles to his name, aimed to push for a historic 25th Slam title. The new partnership showed promise at the 2025 Australian Open, where Djokovic reached the semifinals. However, injury forced him to withdraw just before the final, casting uncertainty over the future of the player-coach arrangement. Despite that, Djokovic decided to stick with Murray through the early months of the season.
But 2025 has not gone well for the Serbian star. Since the Australian Open, he has suffered a string of disappointing early-round exits: round of 32 in Doha and Monte Carlo, round of 64 in Indian Wells and Madrid. His only standout performance came in Miami, where he reached the final but was defeated by 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, denying Djokovic his 100th ATP title.
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Just ahead of the French Open, Djokovic made headlines again—this time by announcing that his collaboration with Murray had officially come to an end. On May 13, he took to Instagram to express gratitude: “Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun & support over last six months on & off the court. I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together.”
Their partnership had been a talking point since its announcement in November. Murray had expressed excitement about joining Djokovic’s team, noting it was a unique opportunity to support his former rival and help him chase major goals. Many believed the duo would stay together at least through Wimbledon, given their promising start.
Now, with Murray no longer in the picture, speculation has swirled about Djokovic’s next move. Will he hire a new coach before the next Grand Slam? According to former American tennis pro Andy Roddick, the answer may be no. Speaking on the Tennis Channel podcast, Roddick shared his view that Djokovic doesn’t necessarily need a new coach. He explained that unless Djokovic brings in someone from his past team for the sake of familiarity, there’s no urgency to add a new face.
Roddick remarked that Murray had offered a fresh perspective and respect in the locker room, but ultimately, Djokovic’s experience speaks for itself. “My cats could coach Novak,” he joked, emphasizing that someone of Djokovic’s stature might not benefit from traditional coaching in the same way others do. He added that as long as Djokovic is healthy and motivated, he’s still a dangerous opponent. But if he’s lacking in preparation or mental drive, he’s beatable.
Djokovic himself had spoken highly of Murray earlier this season. After his Miami Open performance—his first match win at the tournament since 2019—he talked about his competitive mindset and praised Murray’s character. He described Murray as a genuine person who valued the coach-player relationship and expressed how much he appreciated working with him.
With the French Open around the corner, it’s unclear whether Djokovic will operate without a formal coach. The tennis community remains divided on whether he should go solo or add someone new to his corner. Regardless, the end of the Murray partnership marks another chapter in Djokovic’s storied career—one that continues to evolve, both on and off the court.