Sport can be bitter. But beyond the hallowed halls and animated grandstands, the human connections forged across uncountable bitter clashes may find renewed vigor in a different time. The latest news on the Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray collaboration is fresh evidence of the same. It promises to be exciting and dramatic and definitely full of highs and lows. But as the tennis behemoth meets his former nemesis again, Jeremy Chardy, current coach of Ugo Humbert, has his own take on how things might pan out.
The new partnership has already set many tongues wagging. But Chardy, a player-turned commentator, is uniquely placed to dwell on its potential dynamics. The Frenchman faced off multiple times against this half of the Big Four in his career – much to his dismay. Against Novak, he found himself ruthlessly demolished in all 14 of their clashes. With Murray, the case would have been the same if not for a sole Round of 16 victory at the 2012 ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati. Safe to say, he knows the two well.
Since the Big Four’s retirements, Djokovic’s matches have been mostly a David-meets-Goliath situation, save for a couple of high octane ones against the most promising Next Gen stars. Many speculate that he might have lost his fire – the characteristic chase-every-ball-down hunger – as his biggest rivalries have been relegated to the annals of history. But Chardy clues in spectacularly against these murmurs.
“They’re not very close friends but they know each other so it’s always difficult, the relationship will be difficult because Andy was one of the best players and he beat him. And when you’re on the pitch, you don’t see things the same way as a coach,” said Chardy to Express Sport on Thursday.
But the choice of Murray as Djokovic’s coach might be a formidable strategy. Familiarity often breeds contempt. But that can’t very well be the case, for the Brit and Serb hold mutual admiration for their once-foe – and Chardy knows it too.
Andy Murray to Novak Djokovic on IG
“Rivals, doubles partners, friends & lovers? (See slide 3
) thanks for the 25 years of competition and good luck for the rest of your career”
Love this. All of this.
pic.twitter.com/dX5MUThtY9
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 27, 2024
He continues: “I don’t think they’re going to argue. But maybe! Because sometimes you have to argue, it’s good to argue. Although I think they respect each other too much.” Simultaneously, Chardy, a former world No. 25 who transitioned to coaching after his retirement, provided his assessment of their partnership.
For Chardy Djokovic-Murray partnership is “not magical, it’s a process”
Even after parting with long-term coach Goran Ivanisevic in March, Djokovic’s tailspin form from the Australian Open four–set semifinal loss against Sinner continued. Upsets from lower seeded players and lucky losers became the unsettling norm. He had lost something from the hot run of form in 2023. The Paris Olympics saw his triumphant return to glory with nail biting dominance that begged the question: was it motivation that the storied Novak Djokovic had been lacking all year?
If that is indeed true, then Murray might well be the secret sauce that Djokovic needs after slipping to the 7th rank in the ATP standings. For who better to magnify one’s errors, than someone who has defeated him in almost 11 matches at crucial stages of tournaments? Having struggled with more than a fair share of injuries in his own career, Murray is perfectly poised to adapt and prolong Djokovic’s career at the highest level.
Eyeing possibly another Grand Slam in his late 30s, the Djoker can ill afford to play in jest. For Murray, transitioning to a coaching role signifies a new chapter. Once known for navigating injuries with tactical brilliance, his firsthand experience of competing against the sport’s elite makes him an unparalleled asset. As the 2025 season approaches, fans can hope for this much: court theatrics aside, their player-coach dynamics will be a treat. But Chardy thinks that things won’t change overnight.
“For me, they will go for the full year on the big tournaments and if it’s going well they will continue,” the Frenchman said. “When you’re an athlete, you know that nothing is magical so it’s not because Andy is coming that it’s going to change everything but we need six months to start to see improvement and to be able to do some work.”
“It’s not magical, it’s a process, you need to believe in the process, believe in the direction you are taking. If they have decided to work together, it means they believe they can do something really good together,” concluded Chardy.
Novak Djokovic will be kicking off his season at the Brisbane International, but Andy Murray won’t be joining him there. Murray is expected to travel to Melbourne to support his former rival and help him in his quest for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title.
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