Former French player Julien Benneteau opined that Novak Djokovic‘s decision to hire Andy Murray as a coach is a way of sending “a signal” to his ATP rivals. The 24-time Grand Slam champion surprised the world on Saturday by announcing his partnership with his recently retired rival.
The British 3-time Grand Slam champion will join Djokovic’s team as a coach during the off-season and accompany him at the Australian Open, which will be the Serbian’s first tournament next year.
In 2024, Djokovic played only 11 events and, for the first time since 2017, failed to win a Grand Slam title. Despite results that fell short of expectations by his own standards, he ended the season ranked world No. 7, achieving his primary goal: the Olympic gold medal.
After a season in which Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz stole the spotlight and split the four majors between them, it seems the change of era is definitive. However, the 37-year-old Djokovic remains determined to fight for more Slam titles. Benneteau believes hiring Murray sends a “signal” to Djokovic’s rivals.
“It’s not because you were a great player that you are a good coach and that guarantees success as a coach. Andy Murray will have the role of coach, not trainer; he will not teach him how to hit a forehand or a backhand,” Benneteau said. “I think Djokovic has a real motivation to reach 25 Grand Slams, to be the only one to have done it, and he will do everything for it.”
“And the fact that Murray joins him in his team, it is a signal that he sends to the others and also to himself in order to have another voice, another vision on the game of Alcaraz and Sinner to be able to beat them in five sets,” Benneteau added. “We must not forget [Alexander] Zverev, who finished the year strongly. And I think it is in this perspective that he calls on Andy Murray.”
Murray had officially ended his career a few months ago at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he competed in doubles alongside Dan Evans. The Brit enjoyed a few months away from the Tour but will return in 2025, this time from the box of one of his greatest rivals.
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