Former ATP ace highlights Novak Djokovic's huge mistake

12/01/2024 03:00 PM

Novak Djokovic knows how to attract the attention of the whole world. Last week – during the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga – the former world number 1 shocked everyone by announcing that his new coach will be Andy Murray. The 3-time Grand Slam champion will follow him to the 2025 Australian Open, which is a very important tournament for the Serbian's ambitions.

The 37-year-old from Belgrade has just gone through a season in which he did not win a single title, which was only saved by the triumph at the Paris Olympics during the summer. The current world number 7 has realized that he needs to add something new to his game to get back to the highest level and the addition of Murray to his team is a really brave choice.

The former British champion has never been a coach and his career ended only a few months ago, but he immediately agreed to help his former rival. Next year will be crucial for Novak's future, who could also think about retiring if he doesn't win another Grand Slam title.

It will not be easy for Djokovic to defeat Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at almost 38 years old, which is why he has decided to rely on a legend of modern tennis. Andy knows the dynamics of tennis perfectly and will be able to give him some very useful advice in the decisive moments of the various matches.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has been attending a few events with his new sponsor Qatar Airways these days, before heading to Buenos Aires for his exhibition match with Juan Martin del Potro.

The 37-year-old from Belgrade has serious intentions for next season and does not want to settle for a secondary role in the last phase of his career. His choice to hire Murray as a coach has generated a lot of discussion among fans and insiders.

On the latest edition of his well-known podcast, former world No. 1 Andy Roddick took a little shot at the Serbian for the timing with which he made this huge announcement (during Rafa Nadal’s last event): “I get memes are fun, but there is no part of this that’s a joke. I don’t think it’s a vanity project.

Hey, listen, is the attention fun? Is the buzz fun? Is it fun to know that you can create a sh*tstorm in the tennis world and override any storyline?

Oh, oh, oh! Rafa retired this weekend? Should we dominate the headlines at the end of that week?’ There was zero reason why this needed to be announced. Zero.”

The former world No. 1 was supposed to be present at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga to celebrate his eternal rival, but his arrival was scheduled for the semifinals. Spain's premature elimination in the quarter-finals upset the plans of all the VIPs who were supposed to attend Rafa's farewell ceremony.

Despite not winning a single title this year, Novak can be proud because he has achieved his main goal. The Serbian ace had dreamed of winning the gold medal at the Olympics for many years and few imagined that he would succeed at the age of 37 and on the surface less congenial to his game.

Nole played an impressive tennis in Paris this summer, defeating Carlitos Alcaraz in a stunning final and winning the tournament without dropping a set. His dream of winning the gold medal seemed to have become a curse, considering the atrocious disappointments in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 (he lost to del Potro in the first round) and Tokyo in 2021 (he lost to Sascha Zverev in the semifinal).

During a recent interview with ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’, Djokovic recalled that amazing triumph: “The Olympic gold is an important achievement also because it is the only title won this season. But it is also what I had marked as most important at the beginning of the year.

The gold was a dream, therefore a priority. It has been my great ambition for many years, despite the failed attempts, with the three lost semi-finals and the bronze in my first participation in 2008.

So, I told myself that, at my 37 years, it was perhaps the last opportunity to hang this medal around my neck, especially at Roland Garros, a court that is very familiar to me.

After the knee operation and the Wimbledon final, I felt ready and I believe I demonstrated it with my performance at the Olympics.

“In the end, I have made a dream come true and it is undoubtedly one of the best moments, if not the best of my career.”