In a quiet nook of the participant warm-up gymnasium on Monday afternoon in Melbourne Park, one of many numerous invasive cameras dotted across the match space captured a major second. After 24 years of sharing the identical locker room as adversaries, of avoiding eye-contact earlier than their matches and staying out of one another’s approach, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic stood face-to-face as Murray walked his new cost via their first ever pre-match pep speak collectively.
For a first-round match at a grand slam match, this was a trickier scenario than both of them may need imagined. Whereas participant and coach have battled in opposition to the overwhelming majority of individuals within the draw, and they’re acquainted with most gamers they haven’t, because the luck of the draw would have it, Djokovic discovered himself up in opposition to one of many few gamers within the 2025 Australian Open draw that he knew virtually nothing about.
In his first scouting report, it was as much as Murray to fill within the gaps and put together Djokovic for the problem of dealing with Nishesh Basavareddy, a proficient 19-year-old American participant competing in the principle draw of a grand slam match for the primary time in his profession.
Hours later, the Djokovic-Murray present started. With a digicam skilled on Murray all through the match and his face predictably projected on the large display at each alternative, Murray entered the court docket carrying a sensible, navy blue Castore tracksuit color coordinated with the remainder of the Djokovic workforce. He sat subsequent to Carlos Gómez-Herrera, Djokovic’s former hitting companion turned assistant.
Whereas coaches usually sit within the first row of the stands camouflaged among the many paying followers, this yr coincidentally marks the primary yr of the Australian Open’s new teaching initiative, an try and put a higher highlight on the coaches and permit gamers simpler entry to their sporting workers. Now located within the nook of the court docket, there may be nowhere for them to cover.
Naturally, Murray had to determine what sort of power he ought to exude to his participant in the course of a match. From the start, Murray applauded virtually each profitable level from Djokovic, continuously standing up and down from his chair. After Djokovic implored his field to offer him with extra encouragement, Murray responded in variety. Late within the second set, as Djokovic took a decisive break of serve, the previous rivals traded fist pumps for the primary time.
Their most complete interplay got here after Djokovic took a two units to 1 lead and the Serb headed over to his field for a strategic dialogue. The dynamic between them maybe illustrated why Djokovic sought Murray out within the first place. Djokovic listened intently as Murray provided tactical recommendation, requested a follow-up query after which nodded earlier than returning to his seat. There are few former tennis gamers or coaches in historical past with a robust sufficient résumé for Djokovic to right away belief their recommendation within the warmth of battle so early into their collaboration.
“He was giving me his suggestions, steerage and opinion,” stated Djokovic. “It’s vital. I take pleasure in speaking to Andy. He is aware of tennis in addition to anyone on the market. He’s a legend of the game. He understands the highs and lows that you just undergo on the court docket, not simply game-wise however mentally and bodily. I don’t must do a lot explaining. He will get every part that I’m going via.”
In the long run, as Djokovic himself admitted, it was a wierd scenario however, with their historical past, their first match was all the time going to really feel odd. As they proceed an intense week of coaching collectively, continuously speaking, asking questions and attending to know one another on a very new stage, the novelty and strangeness of those interactions will certainly put on off.
“He’s continuously supportive and inspiring me,” stated Djokovic. “He’s sensible with that. He cares lots and he’s placing a whole lot of power into attempting to make me really feel good on the court docket. I believe that’s what I want, actually. I used to be in search of that additional motivation. I positively have it with Andy.”
Basavareddy grew up as such a giant fan of Djokovic that his WhatsApp profile image is a photograph of the Serb. Because the 19-year-old outplayed Djokovic for nearly an hour by forcing himself on prime of the baseline, taking the ball on the rise and regularly shifting rallies from defence to assault, it was clear that he has taken important inspiration from Djokovic in his personal sport.
Nonetheless, Djokovic step by step discovered his approach and the second half of the match maybe illustrated why Murray was so prepared to disrupt the primary months of his retirement and throw himself again into the world of elite sport. After 90 minutes of play, the depth was so excessive that Basavareddy started to limp and he struggled to place down weight on his left leg. As soon as he confirmed his bodily weak point, Djokovic by no means let him again in to win 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2.
5 months earlier than his thirty eighth birthday, at an age when the overwhelming majority of different athletes within the historical past of the game are deteriorating bodily and simply attempting to carry on, Djokovic stays in supreme bodily form and his depth continues to interrupt his opponents. Six extra to go.
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